Rebound Magazine Fall 2012 by Matt Fish

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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 I FALL 2012

INSIDETHISISSUE FEATURES

10 14

Spencer Haywood

NBRPA Changes for the New Year

A Man Still on a Mission

BASKETBALL 101:

NBRPA Honored for Diversity

New NBRPA Board Members Elected for 2013 Staff Changes: Slam-Dunk Hires and Promotion

WE MADE THIS GAME:

Legends Preview the 2012-13 NBA Season

DEPARTMENTS

EVENTS

WEALTH

• Chapter Events • 2013 All-Star Weekend in Houston • Building Your Dream Team (of Advisors) • Ronco Johnson • Peachtree Partners

IN EVERY ISSUE

Tip-Off

Fish Talk

Executive Summary

24 38 46 46

Eric Carlyle, Publisher Matt Fish, Editor Arnie Fielkow, NBRPA CEO

Center Court Luxury Real Estate Nuf’ Ced Legends Forever

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From Rebound Magazine

Tip-Off

Fish Talk

BY ERIC CARLYLE I PUBLISHER/CEO

BY MATTHEW FISH I EDITOR

Ready for an Exciting New Year

Getting Back What You Give

When I first found out we would be interviewing Spencer Haywood, I was very excited. Not many men make it to four All-Star games. Speaking of “four,” this is our fourth quarterly issue of Rebound. Yep, we have been out for a full year now. Like this year’s basketball season, we are fully underway, busy planning our All-Star issue (Winter 2013). What makes the All-Star issue so much fun for us is that it is, of course, our anniversary issue. It was just a year ago that my friend and business partner, Matt Fish, introduced Rebound to many of you in Orlando during All-Star Weekend. I hope you have enjoyed our first year together. We have grown a little each issue and are expecting some really big things in 2013. First, the magazine will continue to grow. Our plans for 2013 include continuing to increase the page count, the coverage and our distribution. But none of this is possible without the support of you, our readers. I got to meet many of you at this year’s Legends World Conference in New Orleans. I know that each one of you has your own unique story to tell and your own unique way of telling it. And these are stories that all of us who love sports want to hear — it’s what provides that “up close and personal” side of the game that allows us to feel like we’re right there on the court with you as you’re making the big play. We are looking forward to seeing you (and celebrating a new year of Rebound) in Houston, too. Not only is Houston a great NBA city, it is also a fun and exciting backdrop for all the activities surrounding the All-Star game. I’m not sure what he has in store for us but I do know that Major Jones and his team will be wonderful Houston hosts. So please, enjoy your fourth issue of Rebound, and get ready for a great 2013 with us.

Finally, professional basketball is back in full-swing for an entire non- abbreviated season. Sweet! With renewed opportunities and optimistic outlooks being the norm rather than the exception, starting a new season is always exciting. Each team is busy assembling and examining the right puzzle pieces, putting them together to ensure optimized performance that produces the best chance to win. This is the time for coaches to make a number of important decisions. They are carefully watching their players to figure out who works the best with whom, to see how many minutes each player can successfully log, and during what part of the game he brings the most to finishing a game. And ultimately, the coaches are looking to see who brings the most to finishing the entire season on top. I have always enjoyed the parallel of sports and life. My father, Jack, is the hardest working man I know. He taught me this at a young age — you get out of things what you put into them. And that definitely applies to basketball. Hard work, teamwork, footwork, working the ball around, box out work, shooting work, pre- and post-game work — all of this takes tons of what else … work. Without it, I can assure you that none of us would have made it playing basketball at a professional level. We all live our lives with highlights and lowlights, ups and downs, excitements and disappointments as well as victories and defeats. So we’ll doubtless have highlights and lowlights, ups and downs, excitements and disappointments as well as victories and defeats throughout the 2012-2013 season. As the season grows older, we know there will be set-backs like injuries and illnesses, losing streaks and turnovers. But we know that there will also be winning streaks and beautiful alley-oops that produce feelings of invincibility … just like life.

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Executive Summary

Season’s Greetings from the National Basketball Retired Players Association! This is a wonderful time of year to celebrate family, friends and your fellow NBRPA Members. For me, the holiday season is also a time to reflect. On a personal level, it’s especially nice to look back on a wonderful first year with the NBRPA. We are fully entrenched in new Chicago offices that are centrally located to all NBRPA members. We have an accomplished, energetic staff in place and we are at an all-time high for dues-paying members (a number that keeps growing!) with a blossoming list of beneficial member benefits and programs that continues to expand and evolve. Thank you for your support in this past year — the NBRPA could not have enjoyed such success and growth without you. Recently we held our first public event in Chicago, a “Lunch with Champions” that featured new and current board members such as Thurl Bailey, Rick Barry and Spencer Haywood. The event, held on November 29 at Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier, was a rousing success that was attended by more than 20 NBRPA Members and included support from the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Sports Commission. This event coincided with a retreat for the 2013 NBRPA board of directors at our national office and I am personally motivated and excited to bring all of the ideas the board shared to life. Our board drives this organization and each board member’s dedication to the NBRPA is inspiring. The approaching holidays also mean a time to renew for annual NBRPA Members. I want to personally thank each of you for your membership in 2012. Because of your support, we were able to achieve more than 25 percent growth in the past year and — most importantly — we now provide unprecedented programming, services, benefits and events to our former NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters players. If you are an annual member and have not yet renewed, our staff will be reaching out to make sure you’re with us for what promises to be the most exciting year we’ve ever had at the NBRPA. Our board of directors has several big announcements to make in the coming weeks and months, including exciting developments in our strengthening relationships with both the NBA and NBPA. RIGHT NOW is the most exciting time in the 20-year history of the NBRPA and we are excited to have you on board with us. We will kick off the New Year in Houston February 14-17 with our annual All-Star Weekend celebration. I look forward to seeing all of our NBRPA Members in Houston for more open dialogue and idea sharing as we continue to grow for the betterment of the membership. Until then, happy holidays to you and your families and here’s to all that we will accomplish in 2013. Yours in basketball,

Official Publication of the NBRPA VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 I FALL 2012 NBRPA REBOUND MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER/CEO Eric Carlyle I eric@reboundmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR Connie Wardman I connie@reboundmag.com EDITOR Matthew Fish I matt@reboundmag.com WRITERS Eric Carlyle, Cedric Ceballos, Paul Corliss, Jonathan Miller, Andre Mirkine, CFP, Brian Patrick, Michael Uyemura, Christopher Warren ART DIRECTOR Dara Fowler I dara@reboundmag.com WEBSITE/IT David Riach I david@reboundmag.com SALES Tom Lockhart I tom@reboundmag.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Paul Corliss I pcorliss@legendsofbasketball.com ADVISORS Bernard Thompson and Major Jones NBRPA

CEO Arnie Fielkow STAFF Adrian Colón, Paul Corliss, Excell Hardy Jr., Erin Miller, Scott Roskind, Mark Scoggins, Charece Williams, Sam Vincent NBRPA BOARD MEMBERS Robert A. Elliott, President & Chairman Otis Birdsong, Vice President Marvin Roberts, Treasurer Steve Hayes, Secretary Dr. George Tinsley Sr., Past President Thurl Bailey, Director Harvey Catchings, Director James Donaldson, Director LaRue Martin Jr., Director Johnny Newman, Director Danny Schayes, Director © 2012 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC

Arnie D. Fielkow Chief Executive Officer NBRPA

4703 S. Lakeshore Drive, Suite 3 Tempe, Arizona 85282 P 480.222.4223 I F 480.889.5513 www.reboundmag.com REBOUND is a trademark of Rebound Sports Media

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Spencer Haywood â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

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still A MAN ON A MISSION By Connie Wardman

If ever

there is one man who alone has changed the face of basketball, it is SPENCER HAYWOOD. In a game where talking “trash” or “smack,” is considered the norm, it would be easy to dismiss a claim that just one person is responsible for massive change within the industry … except for one thing — it’s all true. As one who has been called arguably the most talented basketball player of all time, it’s not his basketball prowess alone that singles Haywood out from the storied careers of his contemporaries. It’s what he’s done for basketball off the court. While he’s not given to over-exaggeration in his claims, Haywood is definitely not shy about what he’s done to move basketball forward and to claim credit for the results. A “peaceful but passionate guy, an outsider unafraid to speak the truth,” according to his own description, Haywood is still on a mission to make things better for professional basketball players. Austin Burton, in his piece, “National Treasure: The Spencer Haywood Story” in the March 20, 2012 issue of Dime Magazine, called him “a revolutionary for social change” and “a forefather of the sports entertainment business.” Born in 1949 in Silver City, Mississippi, a town with a population of only 200, Haywood moved to Detroit in his mid-teens and grew to adulthood during a time of true social upheaval in the U.S. From the late 1950s through the 1960s and beyond, the U.S. was mired in the Vietnam War; the Democratic National Convention was taken over by protestors; it was the Nixon years with its ongoing fallout from Watergate; and the assassinations of the Kennedys and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. forever changed our world and how we would experience it going forward, both as a nation and as individual citizens. How poignant to remember Dr. King giving his beautifully inspiring “I have a dream” speech about racial equality while in Haywood’s early years (ages 6-14) when he was picking cotton alongside his mother and playing basketball barefooted on dirt roads, his biggest life dream was simply to own a pair of Converse gym shoes. But then came the 1968 Olympic Games. Long before the original Dream Team played in the 1992 Olympic Games, there was another team that some argue was just as good, if not better than the ’92 team. That was the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball team that played in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Haywood tried out for the team and at age 19, he wound up leading the U.S. team to a gold medal and was named the Most Valuable Player. This Olympiad was plagued by racial conflict. U.S. runners Tommy Smith and John Carlos gave the Black Power salute on the medal stand while others chose to boycott the Games, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld. Haywood recalls that the Mexican fans booed the team when they arrived because they thought the U.S. couldn’t win. But after they won the gold and Haywood set records doing it, the fans gave them a standing ovation which brought him to tears. This made Haywood the youngest basketball player in the U.S. to make the men’s team, he had the all-time field

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goal percentage record (71.9 percent) and he was the youngest basketball player to win the gold medal. He also scored the most points and rebounds in Olympic history, a record that remained unbroken until 2012. When you ask Haywood what makes him the most proud of his many accomplishments, he has two. The first is his Olympic performance – winning the gold medal, keeping it from the Russians who expected to win it, and setting those four records. He says he saved America in 1968 from losing to the world for the first time in the history of basketball. The second thing that makes Haywood proud is his fight that went all the way to the Supreme Court that, in his words, “finally won equal opportunity for the guys to make a living.” Many NBA players today don’t know that there was once a rule that a basketball player was barred from playing in the NBA until he had graduated from a four-year college or waited four years after high school graduation till his “assumed” college class graduated. It wasn’t just the NBA that wanted to keep the four-year graduation rule in place; the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) also supported it. If outstanding players were allowed to leave college early, their schools and the NCAA would lose lots of revenue based on ticket sales and other products. If Haywood won his case, they would be losing revenue not just from basketball but also from football. As a 6-foot-8 power forward, Haywood tried to go pro at the end of his sophomore year at the University of Detroit but ran into the NBA’s four-year college graduation rule. But he didn’t want two more years of college play. As the Number One high school player in the U.S. (Pershing high school in Detroit), the Junior College Player of the Year (Trinidad State in Colorado), and the winner of the four 1968 Olympic awards, in his sophomore year he was named the Outstanding College Player of the Year — he was ready for the NBA.. Here was an exceptionally talented guy

12 I

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His dream of equality still drives him. In classic Haywood style, he says

determined to make life better for his mother who was still on her knees picking cotton for $2 a day. But his way to earning the money that would enable him to accomplish that goal for his family was blocked for two more years. Now older and more experienced than that little boy whose only dream was to own a pair of Converse gym shoes, Haywood was now inspired to have a bigger dream of equality. And true to his action-oriented personality, he wasn’t afraid to speak up and do something to change the situation. He filed an antitrust action against the NBA and became the plaintiff in Haywood v. National Basketball Association that eventually went to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971. The court’s verdict that same year forced the NBA to cancel its rule that kept a player from entering the league before his college class graduation. This verdict is of huge importance to today’s players because Haywood says it enabled him to create wealth and opportunity in the NBA for the younger guys who got into the league as early entries. This includes players like Karl Malone, Magic Johnson, Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. However, all this change didn't magically happen without putting Haywood’s life and that of his family into total turmoil. During the time this law suit was underway, he called his experience brutal and life-threatening, even similar to baseball’s Jackie Robinson’s experience breaking the color barrier. Haywood left college at the end of his sophomore year and signed with the ABA’s Denver Rockets and led the league in scoring (30.0) and rebounds (19.5). He earned a regular season MVP, the All-Star Game MVP and Rookie of the Year in that one season with the ABA. But he paid a penalty for leaving school early. Even though he had been in college for an education, his own school, the University of Detroit, sued him for millions of dollars at a time when he says he wasn’t even making any money. Following his 1969-1970 season with the Rockets, Haywood finally joined the NBA when he signed with the Seattle SuperSonics. But still one year short of his college graduation date, the NBA said he wasn’t eligible to play and filed an injunction against him. So in 1970, with SuperSonics owner Sam Schulman, Haywood filed his anti-trust suit against the NBA. Recalling that time, Haywood says he was booed by the fans and had bottles, ice, balled-up programs as well as racial slurs thrown at him by fans at a number of NBA arenas. And then there were the public announcements that there was an illegal player on the court where he’d be escorted off the court and the arena premises. Intimidated by the owners, all the players were afraid to talk to him – some turned their backs on him and some of the seasoned players targeted him on the court. The result? He was totally isolated. He’s not sure the guys playing today really appreciate what he had to go through, the sacrifices he had to make to change basketball for the better for every player. This unyielding pressure took its toll on Haywood and his family in several ways. After moving to the New York Knicks in the mid-70s, he met and married Somali high fashion model of the 70s, Iman. He was also introduced to cocaine and got hooked. Although it took him three years to kick his addiction, he doesn’t regret it or any other of his life experiences because they’ve made him who he is today. He and Iman divorced after 10 years of marriage and he eventually married Linda, his wife now for 23 years. Living in Las Vegas, he’s the owner of Haywood Group, LLC that specializes in high-end floor instillations. Through it all, Haywood says his steadying influence has been God, as well as the women in his life — his mother and sisters as well as his wife and four daughters. Recently elected to the NBRPA Board of Directors, Haywood is still a man of action, still on a mission to recruit players, both current and former, to help their own — to join the NBRPA, to be active and get involved, and to lend their names to the organization. His dream of equality still drives him. In classic Haywood style, he says “you got to do the right thing and set a good example.”

“you got to do the right thing and set a good example.”

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BASKETBALL101

NBRPA Honored for

DIVERSITY a nod to the NBA’s history of diversity that carries over into the NBRPA, the alumni association was honored at the Compete Sports Diversity Awards held recently in Atlanta.

Presented with Compete’s 2012 Professional Sports Team, League or Organization Award, it was created to honor a professional sports team, league or organization that is a leader in the area of sports diversity and inclusion, making it the norm in professional sports rather than the exception. Presenting the award was master of ceremonies for the Compete Sports Media event, Matt Fish. An NBRPA member and co-president of the Phoenix chapter, he also serves as the editor of Rebound Magazine. In his remarks Fish noted that under the visionary leadership of CEO Arnie Fielkow, the NBRPA has launched a number of programs to encourage the retired icons of basketball to participate as global ambassadors in outreach programs, becoming positive and visible role models. Citing the seven-day trip to Israel this past summer as a prime example, there were 14 NBRPA members who were able to play basketball with Israeli and Palestinian youth in a war-torn area of the world, helping to bring acceptance of diversity through sports on a global level. Included were Legends Stephen Bardo, Dr. Dick Barnett, Kenny Battle, Willie Burton, Joe Barry Carroll, Cedric Ceballos, Dale Ellis, Spencer Haywood, Stephen Howard, Marvin Roberts, Danny Schayes, Sedric Toney and Sam Vincent. This combined effort of the NBRPA and the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF) is part of a new working partnership called Athlete Ambassadors for Israel. In addition to playing hoops with the kids, the attendees underwent an intensive education program about Israeli society and politics while visiting many important religious sites in the Holy Land. PeacePlayers International – Middle East (PPI – ME), an organization that uses basketball to bridge divides, also participated. They made the following comment on their website: “While the kids learned new bball techniques, the basketball players saw firsthand how the sport they have been playing for years could actually help to solve centuries-old conflicts. Needless to say, everyone walked away far more knowledgeable. A great time was had by all!”

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Accepting the award on behalf of Fielkow and NBRPA members was Paul Corliss, vice president of communications and marketing for the organization. He shared with attendees a partial list of the following home countries of a number of athletes who have gone on to play professional basketball in the NBA. It shows a lengthy and well-established pattern of acceptance of diversity and support of inclusion within professional basketball: Argentina, Germany, Great Britain, Jamaica, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, and Spain. Corliss also shared with attendees Fielkow’s remarks: “With players from all over the world and from many different backgrounds, the NBA and diversity go hand-in-hand. As the only professional basketball alumni association directly supported by the NBA, it is our responsibility to carry on the culture of acceptance and diversity that the league establishes for its players. To be recognized for diversity in sports is a great honor and we are honored by the award we received in Atlanta on November 14.”

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NBRPA

Changes for the

NEW YEAR New NBRPA Board Members Elected for 2013 George Tinsley Sr., chair of the NBRPA’s nominating and corporate governance committee announced the winners for the five open 2013 board of director seats: Thurl Bailey, Rick Barry, Bob Elliott, Spencer Haywood and Marvin Roberts. Re-elected board members Bailey, Elliott and Roberts, along with new board members Haywood and Barry, will join Otis Birdsong, Harvey Catchings, James Donaldson, Steve Hayes, Johnny Newman, LaRue Martin, George Tinsley and Danny Schayes to form a 13-member board of directors for 2013. Results of the election were certified by the Weltman & Bernfield Certified Public Accounting Firm. The National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have also been invited to serve on the Board of Directors beginning in 2013. In praising the new board’s strengths, Arnie D. Fielkow, Chief Executive Officer for the NBRPA noted that “the first-ever inclusion of the NBA and NBPA — our two largest partners — will serve to even further strengthen the strong relationships we have developed over the years.” Below are biography capsules on each of the five recently-elected NBRPA board members: THURL BAILEY An extremely popular former Utah Jazz forward who is always willing to speak in the media on the NBRPA’s behalf, Bailey is a key member of the NBRPA’s current board of directors. In between spending quality time with his family, Bailey remains a hoops sage, staying attached to the game as a member of the NBRPA board and working as a Jazz broadcaster. RICK BARRY Hall of Famer Rick Barry is the only player ever to lead the NCAA, NBA, and ABA in scoring. Today he’s a successful coach, businessman and entrepreneur. His sons — all of whom played or are playing collegiately and two of whom played in the NBA — carry on his name in the basketball world. Barry previously served on the Board of Directors for two terms. BOB ELLIOTT As the current president & chairman of the board for the NBRPA, Bob Elliott has overseen unprecedented growth in the organization that includes an all-time membership high. With an accounting degree and an MBA, he owns his own accounting business and has been a sports broadcaster for the Phoenix Suns and the University of Arizona. SPENCER HAYWOOD Haywood has had a lasting effect on the game of basketball due to his 1970 legal test case that opened the NBA to undergraduate college players and his ongoing efforts encouraging players, past and present, to support one another. Beyond basketball, Haywood has a successful high-end flooring business. MARVIN ROBERTS As current treasurer for board, Roberts has helped increase revenues within the association while reducing expenses. With a BS in Business Administration and a Master’s in Higher Education, Roberts has had a very successful post-playing career in corporate America.

16 I

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STAFF CHANGES Slam-Dunk Hires and Promotion

RICK BARRY

SPENCER HAYWOOD

SAM VINCENT

The NBRPA has added to its staff of seasoned sports executives with the hiring of former NBA player and Charlotte Bobcats head coach Sam Vincent as Vice President of Membership, Chapter & Player Development. They have also hired Excell Hardy Jr. as Director of Membership Benefits & Programming. Both positions are evidence of the importance the organization places on membership and chapter development in the coming year. “Sam Vincent’s resume speaks for itself – he won an NBA championship as a player and recently led an NBA team as head coach,” said NBRPA CEO Arnie D. Fielkow. “The NBRPA is currently at an all-time high for dues-paying members and we plan to tap into Sam’s past experiences and unique understanding of our members’ mindset as we continue to grow.” In his new role Vincent will focus on outreach to former NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters players that make up the NBRPA’s membership. According to research, there are more than 2,000 former players eligible to join the NBRPA and Vincent will work to bring all of these Legends of Basketball the benefits of membership. Vincent will also continue to lead the NBRPA’s local chapter development program, an initiative he has spearheaded since 2011. Hardy, who is finishing his Master of Business Administration degree at Governors State University and played basketball as an undergraduate at Quincy University, has more than five years of professional marketing experience and also worked as a high school basketball coach. Hardy started his own branding company in 2009, The Evolution of Advanced Minds — T.E.A.M. LLC, where he worked closely with sports notables such as Jackie Joyner Kersee and the Streetball Legends (formerly of And 1). In his new position, Hardy will lead the NBRPA’s efforts to strengthen existing programs and identify new programs to benefit members – including the continued addition of affinity benefits to increase the value of NBRPA membership. In addition to the full-time hires of Vincent and Hardy, Fielkow announced the promotion of Paul Corliss to Vice President of Communications & Marketing and Charece Williams to Vice President of External Relations & Strategic Planning. The NBRPA’s staff, which also includes Chief Revenue Officer Mark Scoggins, Director of Administration & Special Events Erin Miller and Marketing Consultant Scott Roskind, collectively has decades of top-level sports experience with the NBA, NFL, NCAA, NASCAR and baseball.

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We Made This Game

Legends Preview NBA 2012-13 Season

ince NBRPA members are the ones who, literally, made this game what it is, it only seems fitting that we should ask these Legends of Basketball how they view the upcoming season and how the current players are handling their time in the spotlight. NBRPA staff member Brian Gaughan talked to several members connected with each NBA team and asked them to preview the upcoming season. Here are their thoughts on what to expect in the NBA in 2012-13.

ATLANTA HAWKS

CHICAGO BULLS

“Can you go back in time to the 1977-78 season? If so, that is where you will find the 2012-2013 Atlanta Hawks. Like back in time the Hawks were one of the teams that made some great off-season moves. It won’t show up in the standings early, but just like in the 1977-78 season — picking up the likes of Tree Rollins and Eddie Johnson — the Hawks will show some bite. A .500 season would be nice.” Tree Rollins – Player (1977-88)

“The last two years, when the Bulls had the best regular season record, will be hard to repeat with Derrick Rose out of the line-up for at least the majority of the year. Hopefully Derrick will return stronger than ever and as soon as possible, but until then the rest of the team gets a chance to show what they can do. It will be important for the Bulls to escape any further injuries to the remaining core of the team — Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, and the returning Kirk Hinrich — and for those players to be consistent. The Bench Mob has changed, but will need to be as effective as they have been in the past. Tom Thibodeau and his staff have done a great job coaching and their emphasis on defense is going to be more significant than ever with Rose gone. Don’t count them out yet!” Dave Corzine – Player (1982-89) “The Bulls are facing a difficult task this year, trying to maintain their position as one of the league’s elite teams while playing without Derrick Rose for much of the season. They’ll have to continue to defend at a very high level to win games and have success, but the loss of Omer Asik hurts their defense in a big way. It’s up to the front line — Gibson, Deng, Noah and Boozer — to help this team maintain its defensive identity while awaiting Rose’s return.” Steve Kerr – Player (1993-98)

BOSTON CELTICS “The Boston Celtics have once again assembled a competitive roster for this upcoming season. Returning veterans will continue to provide the talent and leadership required to vie for another championship ring, but the road is never easy. They will need their young players to rise to the challenge and perhaps overachieve to seriously challenge the defending champion Miami Heat – but another playoff appearance is almost assured.” Dave Cowens – Player (1970-80)

BROOKLYN NETS “The Nets have moved again and the excitement is renewed. With Deron Williams joined by Joe Johnson, the Brooklyn Nets will be explosive offensively. The real question is will Spike Lee support a team in his native Brooklyn?” Bob Elliott – Player (1978-81)

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS “The Bobcats are poised to have an improved season with the additions of Ben Gordon, Ramon Sessions, and rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. They have added quality play in the backcourt with the free agent additions. They will be a great compliment to the seasoned veteran play of Matt Carroll, Brendan Haywood, Tyrus Thomas, and DeSagana Diop. There is a chance for them to have a strong improvement from last season looking forward to the 2012-13 season. Look for new head coach Mike Dunlap to bring energy and enthusiasm. His focus will be defense to energize this team and give them chances to win. Expect a much improved team this year.” Sam Vincent – Head Coach (2007-08)

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CLEVELAND CAVALIERS “The Cavaliers will surprise a lot of teams. They are young and talented. If their young guns are able to stay healthy they have a great approach they can compete with an experienced coach in Byron Scott. Kyrie Irving has one year under his belt, and if he stays healthy, he can be a top point guard in the league. The key to their success will be the continuance of their young players developing and their key guys staying healthy.” Phil Hubbard – Player (1981-89)

DALLAS MAVERICKS “Dallas guarantees to be a veteran, experienced, gutsy, hardworking group for the 2012-13 season. The experience of Dirk, Elton Brand, Vince Carter, and Chris Kaman promises this team to be competitive and entertaining night in and night

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out. Added with the athleticism of Darren Collison, Jae Crowder, and OJ Mayo, this is a team that can get up and down with the best. Expect to see this team finishing strong and competing for a spot in the playoffs.” Sam Vincent – Asst. Coach (2006-07)

HOUSTON ROCKETS “The 2012 Houston Rockets are a very young team that must rebound, play defense and have low turnovers. [If] the players who play will score enough points on offense and work on defense, in a few years the youth will shine.” John Egan – Player (1971-72)

DENVER NUGGETS “The Denver Nuggets are about to enter a season of great change and promise. Led by All-Star and Olympian Andre Igoudala, they have a large front line and a veteran point guard in Andre Miller. While they are still making major changes in the wake of the Carmelo Anthony trade, look for the high energy Nuggets under Coach George Karl to make a lot of noise in the West.” Danny Schayes – Player (1982-90)

DETROIT PISTONS “The Detroit Pistons are a team hoping to feed off their strong finish to last season and have some promising young talent. This is still an unproven and young roster, but one with great potential — if they DEFEND! Backcourt strength with Rodney Stuckey and Brandon Knight is a positive. Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko (returning from injury troubles last year) provide stability and veteran leadership up front. Greg Monroe is probably their best player and had a solid first year – he will be man the middle. Charlie Villanueva is the 6th man and needs to find his confidence. Keep an eye on two young guns; Kyle Singler and Andre Drummond. These two will be relied upon a lot for Coach Lawrence Frank, off the bench to supply athleticism and scoring. If the Pistons can stay healthy and find some consistency, they could surprise some folks.” Kelly Tripucka – Player (1981-86) “With a new owner and a new coach, the Pistons will be rebuilding again with old uniforms. This will have no change on their outcome. They will be lucky to win 30 games this year. Last year Detroit won 30 and they may need Mayor Dave Bing to be 25 again and put on uniform.” John Egan – Player (1961-64)

INDIANA PACERS “Indianapolis is a great town with great support. The team is loaded at every position 1-5 with back ups that come in and give them great production. One of their flaws is that they need more standstill shooters to extend and open up the lane. Indiana has a great organization from the GM to Frank Vogel, Brian Shaw and their coaching staff, and the players buying into the vision of the team and the management.” Vincent Askew – Player (1996-97)

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS “The Golden State Warriors and their fans need to pray a lot this season for the good health of Stephen Curry and Andrew Bogut. If either goes down with an injury, which has been their history, any chance to make the playoffs are over.” Rick Barry – Player (1965-67 & 1972-78)

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We Made This Game I CONTINUED

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS “The Clips are great to watch. When they get healthy, WATCH OUT for they will contend and surprise many. CP3 and Griffin together are amazing and Odom and Hill have gas in the tank – deep in the play-offs for sure.” Matt Fish – Player (1994-95)

LOS ANGELES LAKERS “In true Laker fashion, purple and gold are storming towards championship contention! Acquiring chemistry early in the season will be key for the LakeShow. Look for Blake to play wonderfully behind Nash, and for Kobe to be Kobe. And last, but not least, Dwight Howard. Do I smell a second Defensive Player of the Year Award for the Lakers?” Michael Cooper – Player (1978-90)

“The ‘buzz’ words you will hear this year for the New Orleans’ Hornets will be ‘building for the future.’... the Hornet’s sent a clear message that they are trying to change the ‘culture’... ” — STEPHEN HOWARD – BROADCASTER

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES “I think coach Holland has done a great job with the team in Memphis. If Randolph is healthy and Gasol continues to improve, I think that Memphis is one of the top four teams in the West.” George Lynch – Player (1996-98)

MIAMI HEAT “Feel the Heat in Miami for the repeat. Get ready… one, two, three … James, Bosh, Wade. Oh, and Ray Allen? Size the rings and enjoy a fourth MVP ‘Beast Mode’ LeBron. It may rain in Miami, but it is welcome, just like more championships and the sun as it heats up South Beach again.” Matt Fish – Player (1996-97)

MILWAUKEE BUCKS “On paper, this is still a team that has a lot of weaknesses. The guard spots will be shored up if Brandon and Monta stay healthy. The forwards are a combination of skill sets, but with weaknesses on defense. Will Dalembert find a home in Milwaukee or play consistent enough to make a statement on defense? It will still be difficult for them to get to the playoffs, with a lot of the teams in the east getting stronger.” Harvey Catchings – Player (1979-84)

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES “I truly believe Rick Adelman is one of the best coaches in the NBA. With the addition of Brandon Roy and young talent like Ricky Rubio and when Kevin Love comes back from injury, the Timberwolves are going to be a very competitive team for the 2012-2013 season.” Micheal Williams – Player (1992-98)

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS “The ‘buzz’ words you will hear this year for the New Orleans’ Hornets will be ‘building for the future.’ With the selection of Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers with the first pick and 10th pick of the 2012 NBA draft, the Hornet’s sent a clear message that they are trying to change the ‘culture’ of the Hornets with two players that will immediately make impacts on both sides of the floor. Add to that mix Eric Gordon, a player that has already established himself as one of the elite shooting guards in the NBA, and the Hornets look to make some noise this season. The main question for the beginning of the season will be how quickly the two rookies will adjust to the quickness and the physicality of the NBA.” Stephen Howard – Broadcaster (2012-13 Season)

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We Made This Game I CONTINUED

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

“The Suns are in rebuilding mode. This will be a rough season for them. They have a few pieces to the puzzle, but not enough to be successful this year. ” — BERNARD THOMPSON – PLAYER

“As we take a look at the Philadelphia 76ers, we see that they made a move to strengthen themselves in the post by picking up Bynum. The ongoing issue that you have is durability. He has been hampered by injuries for the last several years so it will be important that he grinds it out and plays at least 60-65 games this season. If he is able to do that, it could make a big impact in the win column. Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young still provide solid play at three key positions, but wily veteran Jason Richardson will be called on to give them some experience as well. I think they will finish strong with Bynum and end up second or third in the Atlantic Division on their way to possibly a playoff berth.” Harvey Catchings – Player (1974-79)

PHOENIX SUNS NEW YORK KNICKS “I like what they did during the off season with the addition of Jason Kidd who will add some much needed stability, and Rasheed Wallace who will add toughness, defense and rebounding to help out Tyson Chandler. But Amar’e Stoudemire’s health will be the biggest factor in how far they advance into the post season playoffs.” Emmette Bryant – Player (1964-68)

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER “Last year the OKC Thunder were the darlings of the NBA. Despite their youth, inexperience and a small market location, they were able to make it all the way to the NBA finals before losing to the eventual champs, the Miami Heat. The Thunder’s Big 3 of Durant, Westbrook and Harden gained valuable experience bringing home the gold during the Olympics while Serge Ibaka played a pivotal role for runner-up Spain. It will be interesting to see if the Thunder will be able to take that next logical step as champion with even more expectations to start the season.” Stephen Howard – Broadcaster (2011-12)

ORLANDO MAGIC “It’s 1 A.D. (After Dwight) for the Orlando Magic. Head Coach Jacque Vaughn and General Manager Rob Hennigan, both rookies, look to follow the Spurs/Thunder small market model of team building. Not a likely playoff team, the Magic will compete with heart and hustle this season. However, their future looks bright with a bevy of draft picks and salary cap room in the next few years.” Greg Kite – Player (1990-94)

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“The Suns are in rebuilding mode. This will be a rough season for them. They have a few pieces to the puzzle, but not enough to be successful this year. I hope not, but it looks as though they will be in the bottom of the division – fourth or fifth.” Bernard Thompson – Player (1985-88)

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS “The Trailblazers will surprise a lot of teams this year. I think they have a chance to make some noise in the Northwest division. There is a mixture of players with experience — LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum – and first/second year young guns, Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard. They should finish second or third in that division.” Bernard Thompson – Player (1984-85)

SACRAMENTO KINGS “The Kings will be challenged based on the tough Western Pacific division. However, the talented young guns of the Sacramento Kings will not be taken lightly. Yes, young guns as in fire power. Scoring ability from every position on the floor during the game and more fire power coming off the bench. Depth will be the focal point of the team outside of the super-talented DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans. Young team, yes, but there’s no longer that excuse NOT to win games. Expectations are to win 35 games and make a playoff run. Defense has been the focal point knowing the Kings can score from all positions. However, TEAM DEFENSE and protecting the house (lane area) and ball deflections are a must for the Kings. It should be an exciting 2012-13 season with ups and downs of adjusting to 82 games opposed to 66 in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season.” Fat Lever – Director of Player Development (2007-Present)

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SAN ANTONIO SPURS “The San Antonio Spurs are a testament to the old saying, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ They have won four NBA Championships, three of the last 10 and have never lost a championship series. Consistency is their trademark and it will be more of the same this year. The big three are all back – as long as Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker are healthy the Spurs will be tough to beat. Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches in the league and has the depth on the bench to throw players at you in waves, which helps save the veterans’ legs. They will definitely win a lot of games, but the question will be … can they keep the aging big three healthy and fresh enough to make it through the long tough play-off run to the championship against younger teams?” Dave Corzine – Player (1980-82)

TORONTO RAPTORS “I’m truly excited about this year’s “new look” Raptors. Having spoken with new floor general Kyle Lowry, Ed Davis and the incoming rookies at NBA Summer league Player Development, Raptor fans will be happy to see a high level of character that should translate on and off the court.” Jerome Williams – Player (2000-04)

UTAH JAZZ “The Jazz will put on a show for the fans this year. They look to be running a lot more than previous years. They have the athletes to be an up-and-down type of team. The scoreboard will be lighting up in Utah and wherever they travel. The key to success will be to play tough on the defensive end and compliment their offensive fire power.” Rickey Green – Player (1980-88)

WASHINGTON WIZARDS “If the Wizards get Nene and John Wall back soon, they have a chance to significantly improve last season’s record. The addition of Okafor, Ariza and Martell Webster has made them more mature and stronger up front.” Rich Rinaldi – Player (1971-73)

“Raptor fans will be happy to see a high level of character that should translate on and off the court.” — JEROME WILLIAMS – PLAYER Content is copyright protected and provided for personal use only - not for reproduction or retransmission. I 23 For reprints please contact the Publisher.

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CENTERCOURT GEORGE TINSLEY Inducted to KWC Hall of Fame CONGRATULATIONS TO NBPRA BOARD MEMBER and past-president George Tinsley for being selected for induction into the first class of the Kentucky Wesleyan College’s (KWC) Hall of Fame. As a student there from 1966-1969, Tinsley was a two-time All-American, three-time NCAA Champion, two-time NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team honoree, and was voted to KWC’s All-Century team by fans. During that time he was also their all-time leading rebounder with 1,115; fourth in career points with 2,014; fifth in starts with 113 and was also a 1968 U.S. Olympic Trials participant. Induction is scheduled for February 22-23, 2013.

THE CATCHINGS — LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, this time to Tamika Catchings, daughter of NBRPA board member Harvey Catchings. Leading her WNBA team, the Indiana Fever, to the 2012 WNBA Championship last month, Tamika had 25 points and eight assists in Game Four for an 87-78 win over the Minnesota Lynx. Although Catchings has led the Fever to eight consecutive playoff appearances, this marks the first championship for the Fever. She is the only player in WNBA history to rank as a top player in career points, rebounds, assists and steals. Named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2002, Catchings is a four-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time All-Star and last year she won her first WNBA MVP award.

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NC STATE HALL OF FAME INDUCTS

DAVID THOMPSON

Class of 2012 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Inductees

CONGRATULATIONS TO NBRPA MEMBER David Thompson who was recently inducted into the inaugural class of North Carolina State’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Representing men’s basketball, during the 1973-74 season Thompson, who they’ve called their “high-flying forward,” led the Wolfpack to the 1974 NCAA Championship as well as the 1973 and 1974 ACC titles, helping Norm Sloan’s team break the UCLA Bruin’s streak of seven consecutive national titles by beating them in double overtime. Just two days later the Wolfpack beat Marquette, bringing home the first team championship in NC State’s history.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL

JAMES “DUKES” DONALDSON Visits North Korea MAKING HISTORY as the first NBA player to ever visit to the DPRK (North Korea), James Donaldson discussed basketball development opportunities to open the way for former professional players to conduct basketball training camps and clinics for both the youth of the country and the North Korean professional teams. He has also been doing similar program development work in China.

12 members of the Class of 2012 who were enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Sponsored by Nike, the event was held September 6-8. The list of 12 inductees included players, coaches and officials that bridged the decades. Included were the All American Redheads barnstorming team; Russian Olympic coach Lidia Alexeeva; Don Barksdale, the first black to break numerous color barriers; seven-time ABA All-Star, Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, Mel Daniels; Nike chairman Phil Knight; Olympic and World Game medal-winner Katrina McClain; NCAA referee Hank Nichols; all-time winning coach Don Nelson; five-time NBA All-Star Reggie Miller; three-time NBA AllStar Ralph Sampson; seven-time NBA All-Star Chet Walker; and three-time NBA All-Star and Rookie of the Year, Jamaal “Silk” Wilkes. Also in attendance as presenters were the following NBRPA members: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Barry, Bob Cousy, Billy Cunningham, Wayne Embry, Julius Erving, Artis Gilmore, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Michael Jordan, Bob Lanier, Earl Monroe, Chris Mullin, Isiah Thomas, and Bill Walton.

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LeLadLouie_FP_Layout 1 12/7/12 2:18 PM Page 1

Private, Breathtaking Estate 794 Moaniala Street, Hawaii Loa Ridge, Honolulu, Hawaii Leland Louie, R and Hawaii Golden Realty present a magnificent Honolulu estate for your consideration. Imagine the magnificent lifestyle you can live in this newly-renovated 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home that encompasses 4,356 square feet. Attention to detail abounds in this ocean-view home that is surrounded by an automatic gate and has a video surveillance system for security and privacy. e swimming pool is newly equipped with a four-color fiber-optic lighting system. e pool and spa are serviced by an outdoor wet bar that also accommodates the patio. Offered at $3,980,000 FS, this luxury home sits on 8,912 square feet of land. e 4,356 square foot house includes 3,494 square feet of roofed floor area with a 420 square foot garage and a 442 square foot patio. Additionally, there is a 442 square foot open lanai. Information herein is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Square footage is approximate and should be verified by buyer.

Hawaii Golden Realty 808-202-0250 - cell hgr@ﬂex.com - email www.HawaiiGoldenRealty.com Content is copyright protected and provided for personal use only - not for reproduction or retransmission. For reprints please contact the Publisher.

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EVENTS

Chapter Events

I By Joyce Johnson of iownpr.com

DALLAS Fired up and energized from the excitement of their 20th Birthday the NBRPA Chapters went to work. Dallas Legends joined American Airlines/American Eagle to raise awareness for the Help Haiti Celebrity Golf Tournament supporting the Village of Vision for Haiti Foundation (VVHF).

MIAMI Miami Legends held a meeting to build NBRPA membership in their area. Sam Vincent, NBRPA vice president of membership, player/chapter development met with the group to discuss the vision of the national office, support provided at the local and national level, existing partnerships and future plans. Also attending were Walter Bond, William Thompson, Ron Perry, Oliver Darden, Mark Strickland and Tim Hardaway. Bond and Hardaway joined the board to assist Miami chapter development. The Miami Chapter held a pre-launch event prior to the National Conference to introduce their Advisory Board Members. Hosted by Warren Henry Leasing in Bal Harbour, Fla., the chapter held a Red Carpet event to welcome its board and advisory board members with appetizers, champagne and music. The Tim Hardaway Foundation is hosting The Family Adventure Challenge, a family-focused race incorporating their Live a Park Life philosophy on December 14-15 at Tropical Park in Miami. Hardaway will host the pre-event reception on December 14th. For information visit www.timhardawayfoundation.org. South Florida (Miami) chapter is partnering with Head and Heart Philanthropy, Open Society and the George Soros Foundation to host a December 7 symposium in Miami. Interested in attending? Contact Johanne Cadet at nbrpa@iownpr.com.

ORLANDO South Florida (Miami) president Irving Thomas and treasurer LaMar Green with national board member Dr. George Tinsley went to Orlando to support chapter president Tree Rollins and his group as they hosted the chapter’s annual golf tournament, the two-day Mercedes-Benz Dealer Championships at Grand Cypress Golf Club. Funds raised went to Basketball 4 Life, a non-profit charitable organization operated by the NBRPA Orlando chapter. Celebrity golfers included Nick Anderson, LaMar Green, Pat Burke, Greg Kite, Sam Vincent, Adonal Foyle, Otis Birdsong, Bo Outlaw and Greg Minor. Anderson was given the chapter’s Humanitarian Award for his work in the Orlando Community. Rollins presented him with the award and a watch. This follows his being honored by the NBA with their Humanitarian Award during All-Star 2012.

PHOENIX Co-president Matt Fish announced a partnership effort with the YMCA. Phoenix chapter members will be holding a golf event as part of the Y’s Strong Kids campaign. Also supporting the event will be alumni players from the NFL, NHL, and MLB. Coming up is a fundraiser in 2013 that includes working with the Phoenix Suns.

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2013 All-Star Weekend in Houston

NBRPA events over the All-Star Weekend include the following: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH • All-Star/Celebrity Golf Tournament • All-Star Legends of Basketball Bowling Challenge • Basketball Clinic at NBA Jam Session • Night with the Legends Fundraiser Event

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH • Legends Welcome Reception • Legends to appear at NBA Jam Session • “Kids Get Fit” Legends Basketball Community Clinic • “Touching A Life Gala” – Behind the Bench, the National Basketball Wives Association

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH • Membership Breakfast/Meeting • “Kids Get Fit” Legends Basketball Community Clinic • NBRPA Houston Chapter Gala

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH

ark your calendar for February 14-17, polish up your golf clubs and bowling ball, and get ready to head to Houston for the 62nd NBA All-Star Weekend. In a recent joint announcement by Arnie Fielkow, NBRPA CEO, and Major Jones, NBRPA Houston Chapter President and a number of local dignitaries, this year’s annual event is being held for the third time in Houston. This year is particularly special since it marks the 20th anniversary of the NBRPA’s founding as an alumni organization for former professional players — the Legends — from the NBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters. There are 58 NBRPA members who are Hall of Famers and over 100 NBA Champions and others who are arguably the most iconic players in the history of basketball. And the All-Star Weekend is the one place that annually brings together the current and future Legends of this great sport. Some of the latest additions to the NBRPA membership include Muggsy Bogues, Sean Elliott, Robert Horry, Michael Jordan, Alonzo Mourning and Jalen Rose. The NBRPA events coincide with the NBA events throughout the weekend. The Friday Legends of Basketball All-Star Celebrity Golf Invitational is being held at the Redstone Golf Club and is hosted by Houston Hall of Famers Moses Malone, Clyde Drexler, Elvin Hayes and Calvin Murphy. True to its mission of social responsibility as part of the NBRPA Legends Care program, during this special weekend, the NBPRA and its Houston Chapter will partner with schools, government and local non-profit organizations in the Houston area. These events highlight the organization’s grassroots and community initiatives that reach thousands of young people and their families and provide critical resources to various communitybased programs. This is a time when the organization also commemorates Black History Month by looking at the impact of African Americans in basketball and their positive outreach within their individual and chapter communities. Part of the celebration of Black History Month in Houston will be Friday’s Kids Get Fit Community Basketball Clinic held at the Jack Yates High School and repeated on Saturday at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston YET Center at Finnigan Park.

This high-profile weekend is the crown jewel event of the NBRPA’s annual calendar of events. The Houston Chapter expects to play host to approximate 400 members, spouses, sponsors and invited guests, so get ready to greet old friends (teammates and opponents alike) and meet some new ones.

• Legends Brunch • Send-Off Party

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WEALTH

Building Your Dream Team (of Advisors)

he Sports Financial Advisors Association (SFAA) recently held its annual conference in San Diego, and joining the group was Rebound Magazine’s own, Matt Fish. He spoke to a room of financial professionals and attorneys who are working to further develop best practices for working successfully with current, future and former professional athletes. Included in this group were financial advisors, financial planners, attorneys, accountants, insurance professionals and money managers. As advisors to professional athletes, we are there to provide guidance and advice with financial decisions that are based on our education, experience and accreditations, including the following designations: CFP, CPA, RIA, JD, ChFC, etc. The question for you is this … how can you benefit from the combined years of advice available to you when you decide to work with experienced, licensed professionals? In a prior article we discussed how to find a good advisor. But that is only the beginning. We believe that the best approach is to create your own personal Dream Team of advisors. Any professional, whether a physician, business owner or professional athlete, needs a good team of coaches to provide guidance and direction with critical financial and business decisions. The purpose of having a complete team is that they help you address and integrate ALL the aspects of managing the challenges of a professional athletic career. Coordinating all those decisions will give you the best chance to reach your long-term financial goals. Who is on your team? • Certified Public Accountants (CPA) – Licensed in each state, CPAs are there to help you with tax return preparation and tax return planning.

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• Financial Advisors/Planners – Formerly called stock brokers, these licensed advisors provide investment strategies that fit within your goals; they are crucial to a solid long-term plan to save money and plan for the future. They may be listed as Certified Financial Planners (CFP) or as Registered Investment Advisors (RIA). • Insurance Professionals – Life Insurance is an important part of a financial plan. Decisions that are made for estate planning are licensed by each state separately. This specialty also includes insuring your home, health, automobiles and collectibles (art and antiques). • Attorneys – Lawyers play an important role on your team, helping to draft documents for estate planning, business organization, pre-nuptial agreements, divorce and child custody agreements. There are other financial advisors, such as bankers, mortgage brokers, and real estate agents. However, no single individual can have the expertise to manage the complex financial issues faced by professional athletes, both during and after their active careers. By surrounding yourself with your own personal financial Dream Team, you give yourself the best opportunity to take advantage of strategies that will help you to reach your long-term financial goals while still helping you manage some of the day-to-day challenges of your profession. Members of the SFAA will be at the NBA All-Star events to speak about financial literacy and the key financial knowledge needed to be successful both during and after a professional athletic career. We hope to see you there. SFAA - www.sportsfinancial.org Jonathan Miller, 602-820-2220

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Wealth_Ronco_Fall12_Layout 1 12/7/12 1:51 PM Page 1

When the Lights Go Out After ‘flat lining’ at 38, Ronco Johnson’s goal is to lead a life of significance.

onco Johnson was once a dead man. Back in October, he was rushed to the hospital with tachycardia — an out-of-control heartbeat often brought on by heart defects, an overactive thyroid, or in Johnson’s case, stress. “To make a long story short, they had to reset my heart,” he says. “Basically, I flat lined on October 4 at 5:45 at 38 years old,” the father of one recalls. It was an experience that Johnson, the president of L.R. Johnson and Associates in Cartersville, Georgia, calls a “lights out moment,” and it’s what he’s spent the last 15 years preparing others for. Born in Cartersville and raised in Marietta, Johnson comes from a working-class family — “humble beginnings,” he says. A promising athlete, he played NCAA basketball for Georgia Southern University for a year before transferring to a college in Nebraska, where he earned a degree in radio and television broadcasting. He later transferred back to Georgia to play basketball for Kennesaw State University and earn a mass communications degree. When he graduated, he was recruited to play professional basketball overseas, but he never got the chance to collect his first check — during one of his last college games, he ruptured his patella tendon while doing a lay-up. “That left me a few hours from amputation from my right knee down,” Johnson remembers. At 23 years old and with life quickly going in another direction, he had to make a career choice. With his education to fall back on, Johnson took a job as a marketing coordinator at an Atlanta radio station. He describes the job as “carrying crates for radio personalities.” But people soon noticed his low, smooth-as-silk voice, and after just two or three years he had become the voice of jazz radio in Atlanta.

He mingled often with entertainers and athletes, but “those folks were making real money and I was making radio money,” he laughs. “Radio money means that you can get in any club you wanted to — you just didn’t get the check to support where you were going and who you were hanging out with.” So when an insurance agency happened to try to recruit Johnson’s wife one day, the light bulb went on. “I thought about the idea that my voice has always been a talent, but I do have a brain,” he recounts. “I figured that I had a lot of friends who were making not-so-wise choices with their money.” If the insurance business didn’t work out, he reasoned, he could always go back to radio. Johnson became an agent with New York Life. He spent the next nine years learning the business but he had a goal, carried from childhood, of “owning his own way.” So on April 26, 2009, L.R. Johnson and Associates, a full-service insurance and financial-services consulting firm that specializes in minimizing taxes for athletes, entertainers, business owners, and affluent individuals, was born. Thankfully, he had insurance. He borrowed $50,000 from a policy to get started. The road to success Johnson first used some of the money to hire a business coach, who helped him change his perspective. “I looked at myself differently; I looked at myself as a business owner, not as an insurance salesman,” he says. Within his first year of business, Johnson had paid back the loan and made MDRT. The next year, he made Top of the Table. It wasn’t easy, though. “One of the biggest sacrifices of being a Top of the Table agent or being in the top 4 under 40, at least for me and my story, my testimony, is the fact that I worked 20-hour days. That means I’ve sacrificed time with my spouse, taken away time from my child. Anything and everything I talked about was this industry,” he says.

“Being that I was a former athlete, I understand how they think; a former entertainer, I understand how they think; and now a business owner, I understand how business owners think.” 32 I

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“My goal at one time was much different; it was to be successful. I’ve been successful... My goal is not to be successful; my goal is to be significant.”

Johnson’s time in radio and sports may seem irrelevant at first, but it proved extremely valuable. “I think I was very blessed to identify what my niche market was very early,” he explains. “Being that I was a former athlete, I understand how they think; a former entertainer, I understand how they think; and now a business owner, I understand how business owners think.” “I think everyone knows that the upper 85 percent of athletes who play at a professional level go broke within five to seven years of the end of their career,” he notes, adding that youth and financial illiteracy are huge factors for those clients. “From a very young age, there are a lot of trust issues that you have. People want to get next to you for the obvious reasons. But when you’re 21, 22, 23 years old and you come into a large sum of money — we know retirees and successful business people who don’t understand taxes. Whether you make $100 or $100 million, you show me a rich person, I’ll show you a rich person’s tax problem.” The importance of NAIFA, Johnson, who is president of NAIFA-Cartersville, says NAIFA helped him succeed. “Being a member of NAIFA is important simply because as a young agent, we don’t always understand the behind-thescenes of what makes our industry so important,” he notes. “But when you start dealing with rules and regulations at a higher level as it pertains to Congress and legislative reports and stuff like that, you know you want to be a part of it.” “Our group is an interesting group of professionals,” he says about his chapter. “A lot of them have been in the business many more years than I’ve been alive. It makes for having some expertise and some legacy behind how they do their business practices. And that makes it interesting when you get a chance to talk to them and you try to implement some of the things that have been successful for them and discard the things that don’t work so well.”

Johnson has undoubtedly built a thriving business over the past 15 years, but his definition of success has changed since the day his heart stopped. “If we had had this conversation about seven, eight months ago,” he says, “I’d have given you a different answer. I would’ve said it was a matter of just being hardworking, 20-hour days, so and so and so and so. It was the trips and the monetary rewards, but today it’s not about that. It’s about understanding that when the lights go out, I was ready.” It’s one of the reasons Johnson wrote his forthcoming book with a similar title: “When the Lights Go Out, Are You Ready?” “That’s what I love about the industry,” he continues. “I don’t want to work with everyone. It doesn’t have to be an athlete or an entertainer, but we have to have something in common. I understand that it’s OK not to take every phone call. For those who don’t understand, I take a moment to explain to them: on October 4, I passed away. Anything that happened after that wasn’t going to be taken care of by me if it had happened. I realized that you can take things a little more slowly. You can give people more of your time. You can enjoy life.” Now at the peak of his career, Johnson is looking ahead. “Eventually, you give it away,” he says, referring to the Ronco Johnson Foundation for Financial Literacy, which he founded in 2009. “People who are starving for help are getting answers. And when they get answers, they act. And when they act, they respond. And once they come out of their situations, they become advocates, and that’s where the rubber hits the road for us.” “My goal at one time was much different; it was to be successful. I’ve been successful. Today, it’s a little different,” he says. “My goal is not to be successful; my goal is to be significant.”

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World Class French European Masterpiece in Guard Gated North Ranch Country Club Estates

www.PremierNorthRanchEstate.com $14,950,000 Westlake Village, California

~ ~ ~

Approximately 18,000 Square Feet Over 4 Private Acres Superb Golf Course and Mountain Views

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Six Bedrooms 9 Baths plus 4 Powder Rooms Professional Home Theater Wine Cellar Elevator Separate Office/Library Tremendous Master Suite Master with His & Hers Separate Baths

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Massage Room Wrap Around Balcony with Views Detached Guest House Ideal End of Cul-De-Sac Location Extremely Private and Secluded Lush Manicured Lawns Gorgeous Pool and Spa Bonus Room & Gift Wrapping Room Sports Court & Sunken Trampoline

Circular Driveway & Garages for 5 Cars

Jordan Cohen

Estates Director / Top Company Producer

RE/MAX Olson and Associates 30699 Russell Ranch Rd., Suite 100 Westlake Village, CA 91362

818-435-5220 Jordan@JordanCohen.com

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do you like what you see? Dara Fowler Graphics (DFG) designed this publication. From conception through production DFG will be there to help you set your objectives, discuss ideas and

DARA FOWLER GRAPHICS advertising + design 480.357.4443 dara@dfgraphics.com www.dfgraphics.com

meet your goals — all without the commitment of long-term contracts, retainers or agency prices.

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WEALTH I Peachtree Partners

Limited Partnership Liquidity

eachtree Partners is a secondary market that buys limited partnerships at a discounted price. We are based out of Phoenix, Arizona and have been in business for over 20 years. We are well known within the secondary market world. We give investors an exit strategy for those hard-to-sell illiquid assets. In 2003, Mr. Ira Gaines entered into a consent agreement with the SEC enjoining him from offering, making or engaging in mini-tenders for a public company’s equity securities. This consent specifies that it does not pertain to offers to purchase limited partnership interests such as this. The full text of the consent and final judgment is available at (www.sec.gov). Reasons to Work with Peachtree · The sale of your limited partnership will simplify your tax returns by eliminating future K-1s. · In the case of many IRA accounts, you must liquidate any and all limited partnerships that exist within the account in order to receive your funds. · The liquidation of partnership units inside of an IRA account eliminates future custodial fees. · You will not be charged a commission for the sale of your units.

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If you don’t build for your friends, you shouldn’t be building for anyone else

Attention To Detail ~ Practice makes Perfect, but Perfect Practice makes Perfection! You know you want to work with a boutique custom home builder who has the experience and expertise to construct your vision, working with your architect and designer to their speciﬁcations, down to the ﬁnest of details.

In Touch At All Times ~ We build for many clients who are on the road for a good part of the year, and we create a website for each of our clients, which allows clients to track the progress of their home through this “Owner Website”, while “On the Road”. Every step of the way, you can log into your site-website 24/7 and check out photos of construction, calendars of progress, and track any change orders that are waiting your approval, before we start the work. is eliminates the dreaded “what is this bill?” that oen happens with most Home Builders.

Eye On The Bottom Line ~ You want someone to keep an eye on the budget and bottom line of your home, Haley Custom Homes has negotiated the same deep discounts the National Builders command for materials. You want an energy eﬃcient home, one that meets or exceeds today’s “green” standards. We are a Full Disclosure Home Builder, which means we send every invoice we receive from our vendors to you, so you can see the “Real Costs” associated with your job, not just those costs that the builder wants you to see.

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LUXURYREAL ESTATE CAROL’S LUXURY LISTINGS — WE SPECIALIZE IN SERVICE I AM THE DAUGHTER of World War II veterans who migrated to Chicago after the war and bought a huge 14-room brownstone on the West Side. It was a beautiful home with all sorts of special features and I vividly remember playing in this home with my brothers. I didn’t realize until I was an adult that it had inspired me, instilling in me a love of architecture and luxury real estate. Now a luxury real estate specialist with an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, I am also a member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. I now assist athletes, celebrities and CEOs to find memorable residences throughout the U.S. and abroad. I make sure we always live up to our tagline, “At Carol’s Luxury Listings, we specialize in service.” So please visit me, Carol Holland, at www.luxehomes.org or contact me at: 773-494-9125 (cell), 773-285-7964 (direct).

RITA ARMSTRONG OFFERS PLATINUM SERVICE

JORDAN COHEN IS #4 IF YOU OR YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS are looking for a high-end realtor in California, you need look no further than Jordan Cohen, #4, specialist in Luxury Estates. Four isn’t his player number, it’s his rank as the fourth highest ReMax sales agent for 2012 in the world. And if you want #1, he’s also the number one in his marketplace. Since over a third of his clients are professional athletes and celebrities, Cohen has been featured on ESPN.com and his listings have been profiled on “EXTRA” and “Access Hollywood.” He has also been recognized in many publications, including Unique Homes, DuPont Registry and the Los Angeles Times. Having worked with such well-known athletes as Marcus Allen, Mark Jackson, Don McLean and Tyson Chandler as well as numerous entertainment professionals, Jordan Cohen is the right person to represent you. Contact him at 818-435-5220, jordan@jordancohen.com or www.jordancohen.com.

AS ONE OF THE FIRST REALTORS in the U.S. to receive the QSC “Platinum Award” from Quality Service Certified for 100 percent Client Satisfaction, Rita Armstrong has won numerous national marketing awards and is also known for her reliability. As a fine home specialist, she is a member of Prudential Fine Homes International and has a client experience rating of 4.97/5.0. Serving the entire Houston Bay area, Armstrong is a specialist in waterfront, luxury/fine homes and townhouse/condo properties. She also specializes in first-time buyers, new homes and vacation homes and you can email her for free auto-notification of homes matching your criteria or for a free home valuation. You may contact Rita at 713.397.0734 or email her at rita.armstrong@garygreene.com.

JOSHUA BARIS PROVING THE NEW JERSEY REAL ESTATE MARKET HAS DEFINITELY REBOUNDED! JOSHUA BARIS, award-winning market leader and real estate expert, is currently ranked in the top one percent of licensed real estate agents for the entire state of New Jersey. Similar to the NBA All-Stars, Baris is creating a major name for himself as an All-Star player in the New Jersey real estate arena. By connecting “Real Estate in Real Time” with social media and online marketing, he’s tearing up the court in New Jersey. A member of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Lee, N.J., Baris is a member of Coldwell Banker’s prestigious Multi-Million Dollar Club and their International Sterling Society and has also earned the NJAR® Circle of Excellence Sales Award. He has represented recording artist and actor Ice-T with his wife Coco on the first season of E! Entertainment's "Ice Loves Coco," as well as professional athletes, such as NBA player Jason Collins of the Atlanta Hawks, formerly of the New Jersey Nets. Recently highlighted in the internationally-recognized Top Agent Magazine® as a “Featured Top Agent,” Baris was also named by New Jersey Monthly magazine as one of its “2012 Five Star Agents®,” a prestigious award based on customer service, integrity, market knowledge, commercial and negotiation skills. If you are looking for real estate in New Jersey, reach out to Joshua Baris and see for yourself why the “Bar is Raised for Real Estate!” Contact Joshua at 201-741-4999 or josh@RealEstateInTheGardenState.com

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JOHN PROM AND REMN – FULFILLING THE AMERICAN DREAM AS A 13-YEAR VETERAN of the residential mortgage lending industry, John Prom has spent seven of those years with REMN, the Real Estate Mortgage Network, Inc. Founded in 1989, REMN is headquartered in New Jersey but is a national direct residential mortgage lender that offers an employee-centric, sales-focused and entrepreneurial environment. Now the branch manager for the company’s New York City office, Prom has seen the company grow from 80 associates to over 1,000, all of whom are dedicated to just one thing – fulfilling the American Dream of home ownership. Working with a variety of loan types, including FHA, VA, Jumbo, Conventional and Super Jumbo Loans as well as Reverse Mortgages, Prom is able to serve the financial needs of home buyers, home owners, real estate professionals and builders across the U.S. Prom works hard to ensure his customers, as well as his employees, receive the highest level of service and professionalism. Helping families achieve their dream of home ownership is special to him, particularly union members and first-time home buyers, educating them throughout the mortgage process and sharing their excitement at buying a new home. His customers respond with enthusiasm to Prom’s innovative approach to business and his emphasis on working as an integrated team. But he also takes pride in training new loan officers to meet the same high standards. Prom is active in his community and works extensively with the New York Hotel Trades Council. As a big basketball fan, Prom has an already-established relationship with the NBRPA and he looks forward to continuing to help members and their families and friends. He’s also looking forward to The NBA 2013 All-Star weekend coming up in Houston February 14-17. Contact John at 917-309-4209 or at jprom@remn.com.

JOYCE REY — IN A LEAGUE OF HER OWN JOYCE REY IS IN A LEAGUE OF HER OWN – not baseball, not even basketball (which just happens to be her favorite sport). The league in which Rey operates is the rarified atmosphere of luxury real estate. In fact, she is one of only two U.S. Executive Directors of Previews International, the Estates Division of Coldwell Banker. And a number of her clients are professional athletes. While there are many people now selling homes and estates in the millions of dollars, in 1979 Rey co-founded the first company in the U.S. exclusively representing properties over $1 million. If you can recall the cost of housing in 1979, you realize just how cutting edge that was. Rey certainly hasn’t been resting on her laurels since then. In 2010 she made the biggest residential real estate sale in the U.S. Simply put, Joyce Rey is an excellent communicator, a good listener. From a teacher to a flight attendant to a political travel and appointment secretary, she has brought her considerable people skills to both her real estate career and her personal service to the community. Over the years Rey has been named to a number of Most Influential People lists from the Los Angeles area to the national level; frequently honored by Coldwell Banker with its highest honor, the Society of Excellence; she’s also been named the Los Angeles Business Council’s Woman of the Year and has been awarded the Anti-Defamation League’s prestigious Deborah Award. But when you talk with Rey about her real estate success, the first thing she mentions is how fortunate she feels to have the best, most loyal clients in the world. For her, the quality and caliber of the people she deals with regularly are what make her feel incredibly lucky. Her greatest joy, though, is her son Brandon who was a basketball star in high school. As a result of going to all his games, Rey is a huge basketball fan. Mother and son now attend the Clippers games together. Maybe you’ll see her there. Joyce can be reached at 310.281.3693 or via email at Joyce@JoyceRey.com .

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LUXURYREAL ESTATE I CONTINUED LITTLE NAME. BIG RESULTS. WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING OR SELLING real estate in Central Texas, good things definitely come in a little package — Francie Little, that is. She specializes in residential real estate sales in the Westlake, Barton Creek and Central Austin areas. Consistently a top producer, her strength is her knack for negotiating a contract while maintaining diplomacy and paying close attention to details from the first meeting to post-closing. Little is a Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) and a member of their Million Dollar Guild (CLHMS), a member of the Platinum Top 50 and the Austin Luxury Network (ALN). Her specialties include luxury homes, waterfront properties, developer projects, second homes and condos. She also specializes in investment property and acreage, as well as working with custom home builders. As a Broker, Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and holding a GREEN designation, Little has an impressive set of tools to meet the varied needs of her clients. And by offering clients a free consultation, she makes certain that she fully understands their needs as well as their dreams. Filled with an enthusiasm and passion for life and driven by a great work ethic, her positive attitude carries over into her career as a real estate professional. Little clearly understands that purchasing or selling a home is one of the biggest investments a person can make in his or her lifetime. As a result, she is thoroughly committed to handling every detail of her clients’ varied real estate needs. And just as important is the emphasis she places on the process being a fun, enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

One benefit of working with her is her in-depth knowledge of the Austin area, the result of living there for over 25 years in the Westlake area. Another very important benefit to clients is her well-rounded and balanced personal background that enables her to connect with a wide variety of clients and their cultures and customs. A graduate of the University of Texas with a double major in finance and international business, Little has studied Chinese, French, Spanish and Italian and enjoyed broadening her cultural horizons with the study of each language. She also has a great appreciation for the arts, particularly music having played the piano and the pipe organ. With a belief in giving back, Little is very involved in serving her community. As a dedicated advocate for a number of local charities and organizations, she serves on several boards as part of her career as a volunteer. A member of the various REALTOR® associations, she also sits on the government affairs committee of her local board. She is a sustaining member of both the Symphony League of Austin and the Junior League of Austin, and was a member of the Leadership Austin Essential Class 2011. One of the local charities particularly close to her heart is Helping Hand Home for Children, a residential treatment center for children who have been removed from their homes, where she has served as a board member and past Gala chair.

HIGH PRAISE FOR HALEY CUSTOM HOMES JULY 27, 2012 “We have owned and built many custom homes, and we were in the process of looking at new construction homes. During the process we happened to visit a home built by Dan Fuller. From the moment we stepped inside, we knew that Dan is who we wanted to do business with. Even though we were not present during much of the construction, it is as if we were there. Haley Custom Homes provided our own private website, so that we could view our construction calendar on a weekly basis, review and approve changes before those changes were implemented, and they even provided photographs of the house during the different stages of construction for us to view. We would recommend them to any of our friends.” — Chauncey and Piper Billups

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PRIVATE LAKE FRONT ESTATES IN PALM SPRINGS IF EVER YOU THOUGHT ABOUT OWNING a lakefront retreat in the beautiful Palm Springs area of Southern California, wait no more. Shadow Lake Estates, the area’s only private water sports lake community, just released 12 custom homes and only eight of them are left. The 5,950 square foot custom estate homes have high ceilings and doors, stunning mountain views and large master suites, all designed for gracious living. With 4-5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen and a great room, you’ll enjoy entertaining family, friends, even your corporate guests. The patio has an infinity-style pool, an outdoor barbeque and a fireplace with plenty of room to entertain and relax — all this just steps away from your private dock and boat launch. The jewel of this exclusive gated community is the private record-capable water ski Shadow Lake where you can choose to water ski, kayak, wakeboard, paddle board or fish. If this is your second home or seasonal residence, one of the best parts of Shadow Lakes living is your ability to store your boat at your private dock and your cars in your threeor four-car garage option. Another perk for home buyers is a one-year golf membership to Terra Lago Golf Course. Located next door to the lake, it has played host to the PGA tour skins games. This private lakefront retreat is only minutes from the vibrant Palm Springs area that offers over 130 golf courses, fine dining, world class entertainment, casinos and three airports in addition to the beautiful weather for which the area is known – 330-350 days of sunshine and an annual rainfall of less than six inches. Even in the winter, it’s one of the rare places where you can bask in the warm desert sunshine while enjoying the snow-topped mountains surrounding you. For more information visit www.water33.com.

SERVING YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE, NEGOTIATION SKILLS AND COMMITMENT TWO OF THE MOST UPSCALE AREAS in the Phoenix metropolitan area are Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. And if you’re looking for a high-end property in the Valley of the Sun, contact Jill Brenenstuhl, Realtor of Luxury Homes. As a resident of Paradise Valley and former president of a Scottsdale-based educational travel program, she has extensive knowledge of the many neighborhoods comprising both communities. When combined with strong negotiation skills and a genuine commitment to providing excellent service, that specialized knowledge of these communities is what makes Brenenstuhl a top realtor. In addition to the niche Arizona luxury market, she also offers luxury real estate services in the Coronado area of San Diego. After managing personal real estate ventures for over 20 years, in 2005 a well-known Paradise Valley realtor suggested Brenenstuhl become a professional realtor. Since that time she has represented both buyers and sellers, making sure that their personal real estate objectives are met. For sellers, she commits to helping them sell their exceptional homes or properties in a timely manner, ensuring that they get the highest possible price. And for buyers, whether they’re looking for spectacular luxury homes or other real estate opportunities, Brenenstuhl works with them to find their ideal home or investment. You may contact Brenenstuhl at brenenstuhl1@cox.net or jillbrenenstuhl@gmail.com.

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15 Reasons Why I'm the Paradise Valley and Scottsdale Real Estate Agent for You! 1. I have a total commitment to providing excellent service throughout the real estate transaction. 2. I have exceptional knowledge of the local Paradise Valley and Scottsdale real estate markets. 3. As a real estate professional, I will be committed to negotiating on your behalf to help you meet your specific goals and objectives. 4. I will engage in a comprehensive networking strategy to assist in the purchase or sale of your home. 5. I will go the extra mile for you to make sure your next real estate transaction is a smooth one. 6. I take pride in providing personalized service which means that I will be highly involved in the actual purchase or sale or your home. 7. I will utilize technology to better meet your specific real estate needs, whether you are buying or selling. 8. I will take on the difficult tasks to make moving an easy process. 9. I will assist you in finding the related services that are necessary to buy or sell a home or other property. 10. I will keep you apprised of current local real estate market conditions that can impact the purchase or sale of your home. 11. I engage in a corporate level of marketing to make sure that your home gets as much exposure as possible if you are a seller and that you find the perfect home if you are a buyer. 12. I work as a full time real estate professional which means you will have the pinnacle of support throughout your real estate transaction. 13. I will utilize my experience both in and out of real estate to let you attend to your family while I do the work making sure your real estate transaction is processed in the most trouble free manner possible. 14. I will respect your time and work with you so your busy schedule is not interrupted. 15. I will uphold the highest moral and ethical standards throughout any real estate transaction I am involved in.

REALTY EXECUTIVES Direct: (602) 524-1677 â&#x20AC;˘ Office: (480) 998-0676 Content is copyright protected and provided for personal use only - not for reproduction or retransmission. For reprints please contact the Publisher.

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Nuf' Ced

BY CEDRIC CEBALLOS

The System

ackson, Brown, and D’Antoni. I know it may sound like a law firm but it is actually the line-up of recent coaches for the Los Angeles Lakers – the current coach as well as the past two. Now some people say that because of Phil Jackson’s history of ten championships, his system, brought to him by Tex Winter, is an automatic winner. But Mike Brown, who had some success in Cleveland, did not have the same success in Los Angeles. And Mike D’Antoni’s effective system in Phoenix didn’t work out quite how he wanted it to in New York. Although now that he has taken over the reins of the Los Angeles Lakers, he has one of the key elements that he had in Phoenix — two-time MVP, Steve Nash. D’Antoni also has another element that he didn’t have in Phoenix; one, two, three, maybe four potential Hall of Famers. This raises some interesting questions. Does the system make the team or does the team make the system? Does the coach’s philosophy encourage the system? Does a coach’s philosophy or a team’s coaching order discredit or confuse the system? I believe it’s all about the chemistry. The players have to back what the coach is preaching. But the coach also has to

preach what the players want to hear. And whether you are playing in a local park and recreation program or as part of any NBA championship team, it’s this combination or equation that creates the system. A good example looking at the East is with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh under the coaching of Eric Spoelstra. They had built confidence in their coach and were not looking to include multi-championship coach Pat Riley into their system. This turned the Heat into NBA Champions. So the system depends on two groups; first the players and second the coaches. Players have to accept the coaches’ leadership and guidance and then want to execute it on the court. Coaches must have self-confidence, believing that what they’re implementing with the players is right – that their system of coaching provides the appropriate guidance for the team. In the end it doesn’t matter where you are, and it doesn’t matter what team you play for or are coaching. The important point is to encourage one another and to believe in the system. When you do, the system will work for you. Cedric Ceballos is a former professional basketball player and NBA AllStar. He is the host of the weekly program, Rebound Radio Featuring Cedric Ceballos.

Legends Forever

e want to honor the legendary players of the NBRPA who have recently passed on. These men are our heroes — truly, they have “made this game” what it is today.

PETE BRENNAN: A 1958 first-round draft pick of the New York Knicks (fourth overall), Brennan died after a battle with prostate cancer. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

ART HEYMAN: With an eight-year career in the NBA and ABA, Heyman was selected first in the 1963 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. He also played for the Cincinnati Royals and Philadelphia 76ers as well as the Hartford Capitols, New Jersey Americans, Pittsburgh/Minnesota Pipers, and the Miami Floridians. His cause of death was unavailable.

SLATER “DUGIE” MARTIN, JR: The Hall of Famer and All-Star guard had an 11-year career in the NBA as a player with the Minneapolis Lakers, NY Knicks and the St. Louis Hawks; he also spent time coaching several teams. Cause of his death wasn’t released.

DAN ROUNDFIELD: Drafted in round two of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers (28th overall), Roundfield was drowned off the Caribbean island of Aruba while helping his wife who was struggling in rough water. He played in both the NBA and ABA in Indiana, Atlanta, Detroit, and Washington as well as spending a year playing in Italy.

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