AGRI Biz

The Houston Rockets' preseason slate was a seven-game reminder of why the preseason exists. á The team marched into San Antonio for the exhibition season opener two weeks ago and racked up 17 first-half fast break points en route to a 99-85 victory. á The next night in McCallen, the Rockets treated the ball like a department store promotional giveaway. á That comeback win over the Boston Celtics was as ugly and foul-filled as they come. Anyone ...

á Chris Paul gripped his groin area, wincing in pain as an assistant coach helped him to the bench. á With a 17-point third quarter lead against the wannabe-.500 Chicago Bulls and David West still on the floor as an interior terror, the New Orleans Hornets appeared ready to survive the temporary loss of their star point guard. á Then, history reared its ugly head, and the offenseùsans Paulùimploded like the Stardust in Vegas. á From a ...

The San Antonio Spurs' brass spent a longer-than-usual summer spending the ownership group's money like an alcoholic with a gambling addiction, thrusting a provident franchise deep into luxury tax territory. The objective: give Tim Duncan a roster capable of winning a playoff series with the Lakers and a fifth championship. Popovich and R.C. Buford met most of the objectives. Athletic wingman to counter Lamar Odom, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and other scorers at ...

Dirk Nowitzki showed up to Dallas Mavericks training camp several weeks ago in full surfer-dude mode.   Sporting a beard straight out of the Geico caveman commercials, the longest hair of his career, and a lighter frame, the German seven-footer looked ready to catch a wave.   More important to head coach Rick Carlisle, owner Mark Cuban and the fans, Nowitzki appeared to have shed some emotional weight, too.   He found out this summer the ...

Tony Parker crashed to the ground, his ankle wrecked after aámissed floater in trafficácaused an awkward landing. The San Antonio Spurs young star left the game in agony, and any chance of a winning season seemed to crumple with him. With the Miami Heat's fast start in the eventual home lossáforcing Tim Duncan to the bench, ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said the five Spurs on the floor mightácomprise the least ...

There's a scene in my favorite movie, Independence Day, where Vivica A. Fox's character, Jasmine, and her on-screen son emerge from the rubble of a Los Angeles tunnel to survey the devastation caused by hostile aliens the night before. ôWhat happened, mommy?ö he asks. á ôI donÆt know, baby,öáFox's characterásays, after seeing hundreds of toppled or burning cars and piles of debris where buildings once stood. á Melodramatic as the comparison may seem, I cannot ...