By Stefan Swiat

Imagine growing up as a young boy dreaming of making it to the NBA, imitating players like Michael Jordan and Steve Nash, while working day and night to become just like them. It's the American dream. Yet, it was also a Slovenian one.

When Goran Dragic was growing up in former Yugoslavia, he was hoping to become a member of his national team and a professional basketball player. But he was dreaming of playing in the NBA. He used to wake up at 3 a.m. just so he could watch whatever NBA games were being broadcast on TV.

So in June, when despite being a member of the Slovenian National Team and one of the best club teams in Europe, Tau Ceramica, he dropped everything to climb aboard the next flight to Phoenix and work out for the Suns. Although he slept very little and was on the court just a few hours after arriving in town, Dragic left no doubts to on-lookers during the secret workout that he was ready for the primetime.

In fact, it did not take Dragic long to move up the ladder as one of Europe's best prospects. After being recognized as the All-Slovenian Newcomer of the Year in 2005 and making the Slovenian All-Star Game in 2006, Dragic was asked to become a member of the its national team. Then, after performing well in the 2007 European Championships against the likes of players like France's Tony Parker, Dragic became a focus of the Suns' scouting department.

For a country that only boasts only a little over 2 million people, it possessed a bevy of NBA players that include Sasha Vujacic, Primoz Brezec, Bostjan Nachbar, Rasho Nesterovic and Uros Slokar on its national team. But for the young point guard, it was Serbian Sasha Danilovic that first inspired him to play in the NBA. The former Heat and Maverick guard was one of the first Europeans to make an impact in the league, averaging 12.8 points a game in his short stint in the mid-1990s.

Although Danilovic may be the player that he has modeled himself after, his Slovenian teammates that have played in the league have been offering him tips on making the adjustment from Europe to the NBA. Nesterovic, a 10-year veteran for the Raptors, has been in frequent contact with him.

"Before my first workout I talked with Rasho and he gave me a lot of advice," Dragic said. "He said that I must work hard, listen to the coaches and my time will come when I will get to play."

Although Dragic has played all throughout Europe, Dragic has only been to the United States three times. The first time he came was for the Global Games in Dallas four years ago, which was followed by his pre-draft workout for the Suns two months ago. His third trip was the one that brought him here for good.

The most memorable of those visits, at least to the Suns' front office, would have to be the second one. To get an idea of the type of determination that Dragic possesses, think about the voyage he underwent just to partipate in a tryout that presented him no guarantees.

He boarded a flight at approximately 1 a.m. Phoenix time in Slovenia on Saturday, June 21. After arriving close to around midnight here in Phoenix, he headed to his hotel to get some rest. At 7:45 a.m. he was picked up by Suns personnel and taken to the arena for his pre-draft workout that included three other players. After running through basketball drills for just over an hour and a half, he showered and hopped on a plane back to his country.

For the weekend, Dragic spent 42 hours in transit, just so he could spend an hour and a half impressing the Suns' front office. From all accounts of the workout, Dragic didn't complain once about the travel schedule he endured or how tired his body felt.

The Suns took notice of all of that on June 26, when they swapped picks with the Spurs and had San Antonio choose Dragic for them with the 45th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Once President of Basketball Operations and GM Steve Kerr hung up the phone with the Spurs, the draft room erupted as members of the front office bounded around the room high-fiving each other.

If Suns management was that ecstatic, imagine the emotions running through the 22-year-old guard when Suns Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin woke him up at around 4 a.m. Slovenian time to tell him that he was coming to Phoenix.

"When Griff called me I had fallen asleep because it was so late," Dragic said. "But when he woke me and told me the news, I was so excited. I couldn't believe it."

And why wouldn't he be elated? Dragic had been waiting his whole life for this moment. Not only to play in the NBA, but to be tutored by his boyhood idol in an up-tempo offense that features players that he's always admired.

"AmarA(c), Shaq, Steve Nash are some of the best players in the NBA," Dragic said. "These were players I watched as a kid and it was my dream to play with them. I like to play fast-break basketball like they do here in Phoenix, play defense and pass the ball to my open teammates."

And his teammates should enjoy playing with him as well. Listed at 6-4. Dragic possesses a 6-7 wingspan to go along with his wiry frame that allows him to defend taller players. A southpaw, he's crafty with the ball and can slice through the lane in a manner that is similar to Manu Ginobili. He looks a little like fellow countryman and Sacramento King guard Beno Udrih on the floor, but he is much more athletic.

As he showed in his performance with the national team, Dragic is capable of dunking off the dribble and in traffic, while also displaying a littany of moves around the basket that allow him to finish in a myriad of ways. Although he displays a nice touch on his jumper and is consistent in shooting it from mid-range, Dragic is still developing his consistency from the NBA's 3-point arc.

And although the rookie guard is thrilled to be in the US, sample American food and visit cities like New York and Washington D.C., he has his priorities in order.

"I want to see how the games go; that is my first wish," Dragic said. "I'm going to give it all of my strength to help the team."

Based on what he did just get to Phoenix, Suns fans should take his word for it.

by Jahna Berry

When the NBA's All-Stars battle it out at US Airways Center five months from now, the contest could be a game-changer for downtown Phoenix.

The event could help shake up the district's sleepy reputation, downtown boosters say. The game will showcase the neighborhood's resurgence, help drum up interest in future city investment and expose locals to what downtown offers, organizers say.

City boosters plan to make downtown the heart of the All-Star Week celebration, which

culminates with the Feb. 15 game.

Unlike last winter's Super Bowl, which had events scattered at Valley venues as far as 30 miles apart, activities tied to the NBA All-Star Game will take place almost exclusively in downtown Phoenix.

The teams will sleep at the new 1,000-room Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. A basketball theme park, called Jam Session, will take over the convention center's new North Building for five days.

Out-of-town media will likely bunk in downtown hotel rooms. The teams will tip-off at US Airways Center.

The festivities will help spotlight downtown upgrades and the growing vitality in the area, city boosters say.

In addition to the $350 million Sheraton and the $600 million convention-center expansion, the $1.4 billion light-rail line will take center stage.

"I think that it's the unveiling of the new downtown Phoenix, its premiere," Mayor Phil Gordon said.

"The Super Bowl - a phenomenal opportunity for the Valley and for Phoenix, and we benefited immensely - but it was a wide-angle view."

Dollars to downtown

The city estimates that, based on the reported economic impact of previous All-Star Games, the Phoenix event could attract $40 million in direct spending and up to an $80 million boost to the region.

Parties, fan events and community outreach will start in early February and end on Presidents Day.

All-Star Weekend begins Feb. 13 with the Rookie Challenge, a game between rookies and second-year players.

The following night is a skills competition among the NBA's best. The All-Star Game itself pits the best players from the Western Conference against the best players from the Eastern. Phoenix Suns players Steve Nash, AmarA(c) Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal have been named All-Stars in previous years.

About 60,000 people will be in and out of US Airways Center over the weekend to catch those events, said Jamie Morris, public-relations director for the Suns.

The Jam Session is estimated to bring 100,000 people downtown from Feb. 12 to 16,. Phoenix tourism officials say.

Many of those visitors will be corporate executives who, the city hopes, will consider holding future events in Phoenix or will do business here.

The game will not only show off downtown to tourists but also reintroduce the city to locals.

Although downtown Phoenix has changed dramatically over the past five years, many Valley residents haven't visited the district in years, said Steve Moore, president and chief executive of the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"One of the best things you can do to get your downtown vibrant is to get your locals talking about it," Moore said.

The 1996 All-Star Game spurred San Antonio residents to explore the River Walk, which few had gone to before, said Moore, who used to be a San Antonio tourism official.

Not all are optimistic

Some owners are skeptical whether the NBA event will mean much for nearby shops.

Although some restaurants near the basketball game might be packed, at least one business owner is unsure whether the event would help the rest of the neighborhood.

"The Super Bowl took business away from us," said Garry Bismore, co-owner of the 5-year-old Silver Spoon Cafe at 202 N. Central Ave.

The traffic barricades kept customers away, Bismore said. Although major events like the All-Star Game can be helpful, the expanded convention center and the start of light rail will have a bigger, long-term impact on their business, he added.

A downtown-merchants group is working to make the most of the opportunity.

The Downtown Phoenix Partnership wants to avoid mistakes from the Super Bowl, such as poor communication. Some merchants complained that they were out of the loop and were unable to take advantage of Super Bowl Week events, said David Roderique, president and CEO of the partnership.

"One of the thing that we are trying to do is marketing to the businesses, letting them know what is happening, where it is happening, what opportunities they will have in terms of additional businesses," Roderique said.

And the city is exploring plans to have street parties that will help keep tourists downtown, the mayor said.

The city plans to invest millions to pull off a successful event.The City Council has already agreed to waive its usual fees for the use of the convention center, which would have amounted to about $300,000. Overtime for Phoenix police for the Super Bowl cost the city about $2.2 million, and the All-Star Game should cost slightly less, Deputy City Manager Ed Zuercher said.

Phoenix last had the All-Star Game in 1995.

Some NBA officials have been amazed at how the city has changed in a short time, the Suns' Morris said.

Come Shape the Future of Racing

Dono Dino Dino!!!!!

My LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Concept Cars: Ferrari F460 Tifosi

Concept Cars: Ferrari F460 Tifosi

best car ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wanted to hug Vettel as he stood on the top step of the podium, what a brilliant first win and everything seemed so perfect for the Torro Rosso team (apart from Bourdais' stall at the start). Sebastien drove absolutely fantastically, he made no mistakes whatsoever and hardly held back, leaving the rest behind. The team must be so happy but even they couldn't believe it and I guess it won't sink in till the next few days! Congratulations to them and all the fans. I think we all deserved seeing a fresh face taking some glory in this crazy sport. There's no doubt about it that Vettel deserved this win and there's plenty more to come from this talented young man. Fernando Alonso gave his commiserations Vettel in parc ferme graciously, as he no longer keeps the record for the youngest Grand Prix winner in history. That's quite a big honour.

Well, what do you all think of that race then? I don't have much to say really, to be honest! The safety car/rolling start was scary to watch, the spray and mist was just unbelievable. Kimi and Lewis managed okay, as did everyone really, and there was plenty of overtaking which kept the race interesting. But even despite that, I struggled to follow it properly and can you blame me: it was the same old story all over again for Kimi. Today was utter, concrete-hard, proof that it's down to the weather and the Ferrari's incompatibility with it. Kimi wasn't able to have a great start and as usual it only got better in the last few laps of the race which explains his amazing fastest lap time, a second clear of everyone else! Whereas Hamilton's McLaren was able to let his balls grow and pass Kimi and climb through the field rapidly, while Kimi still lingered in the back, struggling. What the hell does this show? Kimi is the fastest driver out there yet he couldn't manage to climb through the field, something which is actually a Kimi quality as we saw in his McLaren days. How is it possible, that Kimi stayed 14th for the first stint of the race? He was pushing, oh yes he was, he was even sliding and had a moment nearly in his chasing. Clearly, he's been held back once again by his car and the conditions it has trouble with. It's not just a coincidence that Kimi used to be able to get podiums and even win from starting far back on the grid, while today he couldn't even pass to save his life. It's extremely frustrating and I wonder how he feels about today's race, after being so happy with the car on Friday. From an interview taken after the race, reporters still have the nerve to ask Kimi stupid questions:

Q. Are you satisfied with your race?

Kimi Raikkonen: Do you think I am?

Read the rest of Kimi's thoughts further below, and also try and participate in leaving your comments and views.

Anyway, Hamilton only managed 7th today, and if you compare that to the podiums Kimi used to be able to manage in a McLaren from lower down the grid then I'm still quite content that Kimi is the best driver out there. I can brag about that quite proudly and not give a shit. His fastest lap is pure evidence of it. And don't get me started on the strategy for the race, what the hell Ferrari were doing with Kimi was an utter joke. He should have been one-stopping, only an idiot on the Ferrari wall would bring Kimi in to pit only to run about 9 laps more before pitting again. What on earth was that about? Please enlighten me, as I said I wasn't able to follow the race properly. Kimi pitted on lap 26, was very shortly fuelled and extreme wet tyres remained, and then pitted again to change to intermediate tyres on lap 36. He basically lost all he gained, well tried to gain, in those 9 laps. Switching to intermediates on the first stop would have been really risky but at least Kimi would have known earlier to deal with it and he could have finished in the points later.

Massa couldn't do anything either. He started 6th and finished 6th. Can the world's greatest drivers, especially in the Ferrari team, be that incompetent? I'm just shocked. Kimi could't pass a flipping Force India, for heaven's sake. I'm just shocked. Actually, even Kovalainen was a disgrace and serves him right having to stand on that podium looking like a right novice compared to Vettel and Kubica. Hamilton may be an annoying git and waffle his arse off but at least he could manage to gain some places, he pulled some great moves. The new generation of drivers that we see today are the life and future of F1 indeed.

This may be sounding like a complete rant, it probably is, but my point is that...it's looking hopeless now. I only managed to keep my hopes up after Spa despite the terrible ending because that was Spa. Here at Monza, on their home ground, Ferrari couldn't do anything. They made a complete mess of it, in my opinion. Vettel was too strong, and the weather this weekend obviously helped, but if the next few races continue with this kind of downpour then Ferrari might aswell start focusing 100% on next year. They are useless in these conditions. It took Kimi, the fastest driver as the stats show, a round of laps just to pass one car, whereas Lewis could take on 3 in one lap. I feel bad for Kimi now, he sounded so positive after Friday and I don't know why he did. The car just lacked everything in the race. It was only Kimi who shone through in the end, not the Ferrari (sorry to the Tifosi, but that's the truth as it's been all season). He took his ninth fastest lap of the season, out of 14 races. My goodness. He's a flying Finn alright. Just pity that the car can't handle warming up in time when it counts. It takes the whole race for the car to come alive, not Kimi. It takes the whole race for the car to enjoy the track drying, not Kimi. Okay, I've done enough of the whinging now, but I hope you get my point. This race sucked to the max, and only Vettel's drive and win saved it.

Kubica and BMW's silent determination has paid off and he is now comfortably ahead of Kimi in the championship, and Kimi is 21 points adrift the lead. Which is what it would have been after Spa if Hamilton didn't receive a penalty. Instead of working their butts of to ensure Kimi stays in the fight,they couldn't do nothing this weekend. Ferrari weren't favouring Massa either, which makes it worse. Now we go to Singapore and rain is also with a 60% chance there so I'm so excited for that! I just can't wait to see how Ferrari can get out of this one *rolls eyes*.

Apparently, Kimi had a dry set-up for the race which explains the poor first half of the race.

To finish on a more positive note, and I'm obliged to really, Kimi is the fastest driver out there. We all know it. It's just the way things go sometimes. This season hasn't gone very well for him. He's been unlucky in some races, he's been struggling big time with his car, and just when it looks like it got out of the deep end, it sinks again. Here in Monza, he couldn't pull off his strong fight to the podium as he did in Fuji 2007 because I think Ferrari did something really wrong with the downforce set-up for the race, their strategy was poor and there was a general lacking of pace, on the car's behalf ofcourse. Kimi wasn't lacking anything, which makes it bitter as usual. I'm not just saying it to defend him of a poor result. We've seen it time and time again in these wet races from Ferrari this year. But Kimi will keep flying, that's his job ~

By Jonathan Noble Friday, September 12th 2008, 14:13 GMT

Q. It is looking very good today?

KR: It is probably the best that the car has been. Little by little we have found what we want for the car and at least today it was pretty good.

Q. You have extended your contract, are you more positive now?

KR: I haven't been worrying about anything. It was my decision, so I knew what I could do and what is possible. It doesn't change anything for this year or the future - I still try to do the best I can. And hopefully now we have started to find the way we want and hopefully we can get a good result.

Q. In the race conditions do you feel you are on a par with the McLaren?

KR: Today it looks like we are faster. I am very happy with how things are today.

Q. Was signing a new contract a difficult decision to make?

KR: No. I enjoy it here. Of course when you have a hard time it is sometimes not easy, but it doesn't mean you don't enjoy the driving, or I am not motivated. It is just not fun when things are not always as you want, but we have been working hard and getting things where we want which is the main thing.

Q. So retirement was never an option then?

KR: I never said it was. It was all you guys. It was not what I said. I said I had a contract for the next year at least and then we see after that. I have a couple more years and we look when the times comes for what happens after that.

Q. Why did you decide to stay at Ferrari?

KR: I always had a contract for next year anyway. I never said I was going to retire, it came from you guys. I still enjoy it. I still drive as well as I can. Sometimes when the results are not coming it is not such good fun but it doesn't mean that I don't enjoy it. It was not a very difficult choice. I enjoy working with the people, so I am happy.

Q. So an easy decision to make?

KR: I knew that I had next year so I could have waited even longer, but we came to a solution with the team and everyone happy.

Q. And you feel Ferrari are best placed to help you win another championship?

KR: I wouldn't go anywhere else. I won last year and we are still not out this year. I still enjoy it, even though sometimes it is not such good fun. When the results are not coming, it is nothing to do with the team or me a€" it is just that we didn't get it right together. We are making things go in the right direction though.

by Paul Coro - Sept. 9, 2008 11:57 AM

The Arizona Republic

On Sunday night, Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver used a break during the Mercury game to check in on his other basketball team's star.

AmarA(c) Stoudemire had clocked in for a 400-shot workout at the US Airways Center practice court, but Sarver's view was obstructed by a midcourt curtain, allowing him only to see balls coming off the rim like theater popcorn.

But the misfires were from Stoudemire's crew, not the hands of the Suns star, who had

made 71 percent of his shots.

"It got me a little nervous," Sarver told Stoudemire.

Stoudemire's recent words and actions might alleviate nerves for those invested monetarily or emotionally in the Suns.

He is talking about and working on his defense. He declares his passion for the game to be at an all-time high, bringing him to the court morning and night most weekdays. He is raving about his new coach, Terry Porter, and teammates.

He is worry-free about his surgically repaired knees. And his good effort has extended off the court, having just returned from a week in Sierra Leone to be part of a project to rehabilitate water wells that he helped fund.

"People say they prayed for me every single day," Stoudemire said. "We were greeted with dances, cheers and tears. It was a life-changing experience for me. They struggle, yet they still have joy."

Stoudemire's joy comes in finding more basketball potential to tap. Sporting a "frohawk" hairstyle, he acts as his own smack-talking foe ("STAT, you can't miss two in a row, let alone three!") and motivator ("It feels good coming off my hands") as he calls out that he is shooting from "kill spots."

"I feel fit and fierce," he said. "My health is tremendous. I have no worries about extra work. Before, I never wanted to overwork. I always wanted to do more, but I was coming back from injuries. I can do whatever I want on the court without second-guessing now."

Stoudemire said watching the U.S. team win the Olympic gold medal last month did not cause any second-guessing, either. Stoudemire was included in the national team program during his knee rehabilitation and would have had a spot in Beijing if he wanted it. He said his withdrawal this summer was not health-related.

"It had more to do with rest," Stoudemire said. "I love those guys. I love Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski). I love all of the coaching staff. I just had to make an executive decision to rest up.

"When you're playing year-round four straight years, even though I had surgeries, playing year-round takes a toll on the your body, whether folks know it or see it or not. I want to make sure I maintain a long career. Hopefully, I'll be blessed enough to be back in the Olympics in 2012."

Stoudemire is equally sure about the Suns front office's decisions to hire Porter as head coach and pick up Robin Lopez, Matt Barnes and Goran Dragic.

"I couldn't be more ecstatic about the decision," Stoudemire said of the Porter hire. "He's very organized. He knows what it takes to win. He wants to be the champion. That falls into the category of the Stoudemire brand and also the Phoenix Suns brand. We want to be champions, whatever it takes to do it."

It will take more defense from Stoudemire, for starters.

"I want to be Ron Artest," Stoudemire said, explaining the focus of his recent work on defense, along with efficiency in his offensive moves. "I want to be that guy you fear when you see him guarding you."

After placing sixth in last season's MVP voting, Stoudemire is intent on improving the team's sixth-place finish in the West. Coming off a first-round playoff exit, Stoudemire said Phoenix's first NBA title is his top goal, and this is the best Suns team in his tenure.

"Expectations are higher than they've ever been," he said. "As I improve and I get better, we get better. I have no problem putting the total weight and everything we have on my shoulders. If we lose, I have no problem taking that burden. If we win, just make sure you guys give props where props are due. We're ready."

By Kelly Dwyer

Team USA enters the Olympics as gold-medal favorites, but still trailed by a handful of questions that need answering.

1. Does Team USA know who it is playing?

2. Will Jason Kidd step aside without incident?

3. Will Dwight Howard hold up?

4. Can LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony diversify their games?

Or, can they do anything besides dunk and shoot three-pointers?

5. Can the U.S. ever win?

Of course it can win the gold medal, but can it win over the doubters?

By DAVID CRARY

BEIJING (AP)a€"Once-reclusive China commandeered the world stage Friday, celebrating its first-time role as Olympic host with a stunning display of pageantry and pyrotechnics to open a Summer Games unrivaled for its mix of problems and promise.

Now ascendent as a global power, China welcomed scores of world leaders to an opening ceremony watched by 91,000 people at the eye-catching National Stadium and a potential audience of 4 billion worldwide. It was depicted as the largest, costliest extravaganza in Olympic history, bookended by barrages of some 30,000 fireworks.

To the beat of sparkling explosions, the crowd counted down the final seconds before the show began. A sea of drummersa€"2,008 in alla€"pounded out rhythms with their hands, then acrobats on wires gently wafted down into the stadium as rockets shot up into the night sky from its rim.

President Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were among the glittering roster of notables who watched China make this bold declaration that it had arrived. Bush, rebuked by China after he raised human-rights concerns this week, is the first U.S. president to attend an Olympics on foreign soil.

Already an economic juggernaut, China is given a good chance of overtaking the U.S. atop the gold-medal standings with its legions of athletes trained intensely since childhood. One dramatic showdown will be in women's gymnastics, where the U.S. and Chinese teams are co-favorites; in the pool, Chinese divers and U.S. swimmers are expected to dominate.

The run-up to the games had epic story linesa€"China investing $40 billion to build the needed infrastructure, reeling from a catastrophic earthquake in Sichuan province in May, struggling right up to Friday to diminish Beijing's stubborn smog. China's detentions of political activists, its crackdown on uprisings in Tibet and its economic ties to Sudana€"home of the war-torn Darfur regiona€"fueled relentless criticisms from human rights groups and calls for an Olympic boycott.

Second-guessed for awarding the games to Beijing, the International Olympic Committee stood firmly by its decision. It was time, the committee said, to bring the games to the homeland of 1.3 billion people, a fifth of humanity.

The games, said IOC President Jacques Rogge, "are a chance for the rest of the world to discover what China really is."

The story presented in Friday's ceremony sought to distill 5,000 years of Chinese historya€"featuring everything from the Great Wall to opera puppets to astronauts, and highlighting achievements in art, music and science. Roughly 15,000 people were in the cast, all under the direction of Zhang Yimou, whose early films often often ran afoul of government censors for their blunt portrayals of China's problems.

The show's script steered clear of modern politicsa€"there were no references to Chairman Mao and the class struggle, nor to the more recent conflicts and controversies. The ceremony was taped for broadcast 12 hours later in the United States.

A record 204 delegations were set to parade their athletes through the stadiuma€"superstars such as basketball idols Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming, as well as plucky underdogs from Iraq, Afghanistan and other embattled lands. The nations were marching not in the traditional alphabetical order but in a sequence based on the number of strokes it takes to write their names in Chinese. The exceptions were Greece, birthplace of the Olympics, which was given its traditional place at the start, and the 639-member Chinese team, which lined up last.

The American flag-bearer was 1500-meter runner Lopez Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who spent a decade of his youth in a refugee camp in Kenya. He's a member of the Team Darfur coalition, representing athletes opposed to China's support for Sudan. On Friday he avoided any criticism and said the Chinese "have been great putting all these things together."

Abroad, human rights activists were less generous.

"The Chinese government and the International Olympic Committee have wasted a historic opportunity to use the Beijing Games to make real progress on human rights in China," said Sophie Richardson of Human Rights Watch.

For Chinese dissidents who have dared to challenge the Communist Party's monopoly on power, the start of the Olympics meant tighter surveillance and restrictions.

"It's not my Olympic Games," said Jiang Tianyong, a human rights lawyer. "It's not the games for the ordinary people."

By all indications, however, most Chinese have embraced the games, buying up tickets at a record pace, volunteering by the thousands for Olympic duties, nursing expectations of triumphs by their home team.

To their eyes, the omens were good. The ceremony began at 8 p.m. on the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008a€"auspicious in a country where eight is the luckiest number.

"It not easy to meet with such a date," said Wang Wei, secretary general of Beijing Organizing Committee. "Hopefully this lucky day will bring luck."

By Stefan Swiat, Suns.com

Posted: July 20, 2008

The Suns have taken a huge step forward to completing their roster and adding depth at the wing position by signing 28-year-old free agent Matt Barnes. The former Warrior burst onto the basketball scene in 2007 as one of the catalysts in Golden State's monumental upset of the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks.

Last season, Barnes averaged 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.7 steals in 19.4 minutes, which was a slight dip from his career-best 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 2006-07.

However, the former UCLA-product proved himself to be a clutch player throughout the 2007 playoffs, averaging 11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals during that time. He also demonstrated the ability to connect from 3-point land, nailing 42 percent of his attempts from downtown during that run.

The 6-7, 226-pound Barnes is expected to sign for the veteran's minimum, which allows the Suns to save a bit of cap room. Like Grant Hill's contract, the Suns have to pay a majority of the contract, but a good portion of it is covered by a league fund that was instituted during the last collective bargaining agreement.

The signing of the five-year veteran leaves only two open roster slots for the Suns, who will most likely fill one of those spots by inking a backup point guard.

Suns rookie Robin Lopez will join the original 10 NBA players named to the 2008 USA Basketball Select Team to complete the 12-member roster, USA Basketball announced today. Lopez and Timberwolves rookie Kevin Love were selected after stellar performances in the 2008 NBA Summer League, which is slated to wrap up July 20 after ten days of competition in Las Vegas.

The two will remain in Las Vegas through July 24 and will join the USA Select Team that is comprised of youthful NBA sensations and will help prepare the 2008 USA Men's Senior National Team for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

As was the case last summer, Oklahoma City head coach P.J. Carlesimo, who served as an assistant with the 1992 U.S. Olympic "Dream Team" and who has been a head or assistant coach of six other USA Basketball teams, will serve as head coach of the USA Select Team and assisting Carlesimo for a second straight summer is Toronto Raptors assistant coach Jay Triano.

The select squad will begin training July 20 in Las Vegas and is expected to train and scrimmage against the USA Senior National

Posted: July 8, 2008

For a guy who has already experienced just about every first there is on the basketball court, chalk up one more for Suns Ring of Honor member Dan Majerle. In addition to his first year as assistant coach under new Head Coach Terry Porter for the 2008-09 season, "Thunder Dan" will make his debut manning the clipboard as head coach for the summer league squad next week in Las Vegas.

Suns.com caught up with Majerle, who alongside fellow assistant coach Igor Kokoskov, will soon make the trek west to help get DJ Strawberry, Alando Tucker, Robin Lopez and others some preseason "seasoning" against fellow NBA youngsters.

Suns.com: Congratulations on your first foray into the world of head coaching.

Dan Majerle: I'm looking forward to it. I've obviously never coached before, but any experience I can get, I'll take it. I've been down working guys out every day in Phoenix, so I'm looking forward to Las Vegas and working with Igor and the other coaches. It'll be our responsibility to run the practices and games.

Suns.com: What is job No. 1 in terms of what you'd like to see in Vegas?

Majerle: It's just about getting guys work... guys like DJ Strawberry, Alando Tucker and Robin Lopez. With Lopez, we need to get him familiarized with how the system we're putting in will work... offensively, defensively. Get them playing and get Lopez used to playing NBA style basketball.

Suns.com: Is it safe to say there will be a stronger emphasis on rookie and second-year player development, especially during the upcoming regular season?

Majerle: Last year, DJ and Alando were first-year guys, and rookies always have problems adjusting to the pro ranks. They went through a whole year and learned a lot in practice and game situations when they did get a chance to play. They just need to continue getting better at playing. DJ and Alando have been in town working out every day. It's good to go to Vegas to get in some game situations and get them out there playing. It's important for the young guys to stay sharp and improve.

They just need to play the game. It's about continuing to work. They can drill and do all the work they're doing now, but there is no better thing than going out there and playing basketball. You need to get in game shape and run through situations. With DJ and Alando, they have to work on the things they are weaker on... the pick and roll, handling the basketball. In college, they were guys who were coming off screens and scoring. Defensively, they need to come out there with the mindset they are out there to stop people.

Suns.com: Are you familiar with the Suns' new first-round draft pick and his game?

Majerle: I haven't seen Lopez play yet, but what everybody has said about him, they are really impressed with his work ethic and his ability to block shots. He's a big guy with a mean streak in him (laughs). He loves to play defense and do all the little things to help teams win. I think it's important to have somebody like that on a team. Lopez will be a rookie. He'll come in with a lot of enthusiasm, a defensive mindset to block some shots and a real potential to develop offensively. As for all the other guys on the Summer League squad, I'll get to know them when I get to Vegas.

Suns.com: Have Head Coach Terry Porter and President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr lined out what they would like you to focus on for the next two weeks?

Majerle: We're going to have a meeting before then and go over exactly what they want and expect with the schemes there. This will be Terry's system, so we'll sit down and talk about that. We'll do whatever we need to do to get these young guys ready.

Suns.com: What's the best part of heading back back downstairs to the bench as part of the coaching ranks?

Majerle: I just love getting out there and being involved again. I wouldn't have done this if I didn't think I would have fun doing it. It's a lot of work, but it's work I love. It's something I've been around for a lot of years. It's been a lot of fun so far, and you're out there with the young guys who want to work hard. That's fun for me, to be out there and try to help them be as good as they can be.

I'm going out to coach just like I played. I'm going to give everything I've got. I expect people to work hard, get better, and if they do that, we'll get along great. That's the way I'm going to be. I look forward to going out there, being a part of it, and I hope guys are willing to work and get better. That'll be a lot of enjoyment for me, to be able to work with young guys and see their progress throughout the year.