T.O.- possibly play with the Kings Summer League squad

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2098709


T.O. could join rookies, others in Vegas for hoops


By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Archive

Will Terrell Owens play some summertime hoops as the star ponders a potential training camp holdout?

It's a longer shot than a 3-point buzzer-beater from half-court. But maybe.

In the latest twist to Owens' offseason saga, the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver has been invited to play for the Sacramento Kings' summer league team. The invitation to join Sacramento draft choices, free agents, younger veterans and music mogul Master P on the roster was confirmed Friday by agent Drew Rosenhaus and a Kings spokesman.

There is one considerable caveat: Owens' latest roundball flirtation is actually in the Eagles' court.

Sacramento officials will only allow Owens to participate if the Eagles grant permission. Given the current state of affairs between the Eagles and Owens, who has skipped all the club's offseason workouts as he seeks to upgrade the seven-year, $49 million contract he signed last summer, gaining such clearance could be difficult.

"Obviously, he would love to do it, since he enjoys the game [of basketball] so much and it would be a unique conditioning tool," Rosenhaus said. "But we'll see what happens. We don't know yet. The Kings certainly don't want any [potential legal] entanglements."

Rosenhaus said that Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie has phoned Philadelphia officials. The Eagles office was closed on Frida,y and team president Joe Banner did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone. Time is a factor for Owens because the Las Vegas summer league in which the Kings are entered begins play next week.

A Kings spokesman said it is believed the invitation was extended because of Owens' friendship with Sacramento owners Joe Maloof and Gavin Maloof.

Owens' interest in basketball is well documented. He played basketball for three seasons in college at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, starting five games in that stretch, and in the summer of 2002 appeared in five games for the Adirondack Wildcats of the United States Basketball League.

In 2000, Owens won the celebrity dunking competition at the NBA All-Star Game played in Oakland. He also has a full-size basketball court at his home in Atlanta, which he uses as part of his personal conditioning program.

As for Owens' primary occupation, Rosenhaus said that the situation remains status quo, but that he did speak with Banner recently.

Rosenhaus strongly hinted that Owens would consider a trade, but said he has been denied permission by the Eagles organization to seek out trade scenarios, and that he knows of no current discussions to move his client to another team.

"Right now," Rosenhaus said, "I'm not sure what to expect."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
 
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Well, at least we know that the Kings' summer league team won't be completely about basketball --- got to have (or try to get) TO there to drum up some fan interest, I guess. Can you imagine how much TO will shove around lightweights like Kevin M. and Garcia?
 
4cwebb said:
Can you imagine how much TO will shove around lightweights like Kevin M. and Garcia?

Hopefully not too much considering they'll be on the same team. ;)
 
As a 49er fan who likes Terrell Owens, I have no problem with this whatsoever. It's not just fan interest apparently. I actually think TO is doing it because a) he genuinely likes basketball; b) he's friends with Joe and Gavin; c) he thinks it'll be fun.

I don't think there's really a lack of fan interest in the Vegas Summer League.
 
Yeah, that would be productive -- let's add a football player with an absolutely out of control ego problem to the Summer League team just for kicks. Very useful to the Kings as we scrounge around looking for nuggets,
 
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It's already gonna be a zoo. Rap singer and football player... I think this might just be the year for Bozo the One-Legged Monkey to finally get his shot at the big time!!
 
Master P Television!! Starring T.O.

Man, I hope some of these games are going to be on TV. You talk about a reality show!!!
 
This is stupid on so many levels I don't know where to start unless he actually has a chance of making the team. Play someone who might have a chance. We may find another Bruce Bowen or Ben Wallace. Unlikely, but use the space on someone else.
 
This is getting out of hand now. I can handle the circus on the sidelines and off the court, but the summer league is where they are supposed to be developing young players and looking for some real guys trying to prove they belong. TO and Percy Miller are a joke. The Kings better start getting serious about improving the team. This is just unacceptable IMO.
 
You can take the Maloofs out of Las Vegas for an occassional home game, but you apparently can't take Las Vegas out of the Maloofs. This "show biz" stuff is getting old in a hurry.
 
I like TO and Master P at camp. This is the perfect way for the Kings to drum -up additional attention for the team and increase the fan/revenue base. Why not?
 
Does anyone know anything about his basketball skill ? He's obviously an amazing athlete, so IF he is serious about basketball I could understand this... otherwise whoever called him is a moron.
 
NoBonus said:
I like TO and Master P at camp. This is the perfect way for the Kings to drum -up additional attention for the team and increase the fan/revenue base. Why not?

Inviting Penny the Polka Dotted Warthog to join the team would probably drum up attention too, but I for one would rather not turn into a circus sideshow act in Vegas. Maybe we can get the guys some sequinned unifroms and have the cheerleaders dance topless as well? (actually that last part doesn't sound so bad ;) )
 
Oh well, just two guys I guess, but seems like a waste of two roster spots. Neither TO nor Master P will make the team, so why not give the spots to two guys who actually might end up turning out as useful prospects for us?

Probably not a big deal in the end, just a side-effect of having owners who enjoy schmoozing up to the celebs.
 
When I see news about master P and now TO. Honestly it kinda PO's me.

What is good about this? Why not try out some Euro or try some other diamond in the ruffs. Not sure if there is a limit for how many you can have on a SL team. if there is a limit then this makes no sense, if not then whatever, it will get people to watch and I won't be PO'd

Even if entry is free they will have to pay for concessions and we all know beers and soda at $8.00 each add up quick.
 
Variant said:
Oh well, just two guys I guess, but seems like a waste of two roster spots. Neither TO nor Master P will make the team, so why not give the spots to two guys who actually might end up turning out as useful prospects for us?

Probably not a big deal in the end, just a side-effect of having owners who enjoy schmoozing up to the celebs.

It's not like the 11 and 12 man on summer league team are going to make the team anyway. The probably had a certain number of people who they were interested in and decided to have fun with the other spots.
 
im not at ALL suprised...why risk TOs health, AND allow him to hav fun and do what he wants?

even if they were to trade him, i don't see why they would let him play...what if he somehow reinjuries his leg right before a physical in a trade? i don't see it happening

i also dont see why some people are so upset about a TO invitation. like it has been said, most of these players wont make it anyway, so why not let t.o. and master p have a chance to sign a one year contract with the kings or something....although i wouldnt LIKE that, and i dont see it happening, i dont know why its a huge deal
 
Have I mentioned recently what an enormouos *** Terrel Owens is BTW? Just thought I'd throw that back in. Have to love a guy who foreces his way out of one city to sign a mega-deal, then turns around and blows off his team and teammates all summer while trying to force his new team to renegotiate the deal they just signed him to. Is his signature even worth the paper its signed on? Just an enormously selfish and arrogant individual who feels like the world owes him not just something, but everything. What a turd.
 
Bricklayer said:
Have I mentioned recently what an enormouos *** Terrel Owens is BTW? Just thought I'd throw that back in. Have to love a guy who foreces his way out of one city to sign a mega-deal, then turns around and blows off his team and teammates all summer while trying to force his new team to renegotiate the deal they just signed him to. Is his signature even worth the paper its signed on? Just an enormously selfish and arrogant individual who feels like the world owes him not just something, but everything. What a turd.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I love the way TO plays on the field, but that is about it.

As far as TO's interest in basketball goes, I saw an NFL Films special on TO when he was still with the Niners where he stated that Basketball is actually his favorite sport. He wanted to go to the NBA but it was apparent that he was a better football player than a basketball player. So he chose to go to the NFL strictly to make his money. His holdout becomes less surprising considering those statements.
 
Bricklayer said:
Have I mentioned recently what an enormouos *** Terrel Owens is BTW? Just thought I'd throw that back in. Have to love a guy who foreces his way out of one city to sign a mega-deal, then turns around and blows off his team and teammates all summer while trying to force his new team to renegotiate the deal they just signed him to. Is his signature even worth the paper its signed on? Just an enormously selfish and arrogant individual who feels like the world owes him not just something, but everything. What a turd.


Yes, and shockingly, Stephen A. Smith supports his holdout. I am beginning to wonder exactly what credentials are required to become a sports journalist. Apparently you just need to become vociferously outraged when everyone else does and/or be the mouthpiece for the biggest sports jerk in your city. Smith now has TO and AI covered. . .surely Roenick is next.
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-kings-terrellowens&prov=ap&type=lgns

Owens won't be on Kings' summer-league team
By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
July 1, 2005

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens won't play for Sacramento's summer-league team next week because the NFL club will not give permission.

Owens, the talkative All-Pro who's embroiled in a contract dispute with the Eagles, had recent discussions with the Kings about another foray into basketball, his favorite sport.

But Kings spokesman Darrin May said Friday the franchise wouldn't add Owens to its roster for the Las Vegas summer league unless the Eagles give their consent -- something they did not do, given Owens' value and contract status. The Kings' first game is July 10.''

Eagles president Joe Banner said through a team spokesman Friday night that they had not received a request from the Kings, but if they were to receive one, they would not allow Owens to play.

Owens, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard with a quick first step, was a backup on his college basketball team at Tennessee-Chattanooga. He played briefly for the USBL's Adirondack Wildcats in the summer of 2002, while he was still with the San Francisco 49ers.

Owens caught 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 TDs in his first season with the Eagles, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl for the fifth straight year.

But after helping Philadelphia reach the Super Bowl last season, he stirred things up in his new home with his demand to re-negotiate the seven-year, $49 million deal he signed in March 2004 -- and with his criticism of quarterback Donovan McNabb following the Eagles' loss to the New England Patriots. He held out of the Eagles' recent minicamps to underline his displeasure with his contract.

While Owens won't be in Las Vegas, rapper Master P -- otherwise known as Percy Miller -- will be on the Kings' summer roster, May said.

Miller has pursued his NBA dreams with several teams since 1998, when he tried out for the Charlotte Hornets. He was waived by the Toronto Raptors in 1999, and he participated with the Denver Nuggets' summer league team last year.
 
This actually made my local paper who never mention the Kings. I was shocked, I'm lucky if I get scores let alone actual pieces about them. I have to the the "big city" paper for that.
 
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