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Pyramid
heats up as sports stars begin to align
at CSULB
By
Trent Loomis
Daily Forty-Niner
It's another summer in Long Beach and few
things are certain such as the great weather,
summer school and the NBA Summer Pro League
which is taking place as we speak at the
Pyramid here at California State Long Beach.
CSULB
is in the middle of hosting the 35th annual
SPL, which has called the Pyramid home for
several years now.
As
in years past, the SPL ahs brought future
stars such as Kobe Bryant, Tracey McGrady,
Tim Duncan and Baron Davis as well as NBA
legends like Jerry West, Kareem-Abdul Jabbar
and Pat Riley.
It's
commonplace to catch other players, owners
and celebrities checking out the action
on Atherton.
This
year the SPL brings ten teams headed by
the Lakers and Clippers and include the
Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings,
San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, New
York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.
They,
along with various club teams compete with
squads that consist of rookies and first
and second year players with the purpose
of finding an undiscovered talent.
Director
of Special Events for the Pyramid, Jeremy
Effron looks forward each year to the two
weeks in July when the NBA stars fall into
the CSULB galaxy.
"It's
really great for the school. It brings the
name out for the school and as you can see
by the cameras around, KCAL-9, Fox Sports
and all the various news stations come out
and do a broadcast, and they report from
the pyramid on the campus of Cal State Long
Beach," Effron said. "It's great."
The
SPL has moved around southern California
over the years, finding a central location
where all of the basketball fans in the
southland could enjoy these exhibitions,
which is an important aspect to SPL President
and CEO John Younesi.
"For
many years we were in Los Angeles and then
we moved to Orange County. The fact that
we're closer in proximity to fans in Los
Angeles and closer to fans in Orange County—we've
got the best of both worlds and we've been
treated very well by the university. And
again it's a great place to play and watch
basketball," Younesi said.
There
are five games per day which gives the fans
more basketball than they can handle for
14 straight days.
What
is even more appealing is the access to
the two hometown teams, the Lakers and Clippers
that one has in the Pyramid.
The
Lakers attract mass followings simply because
they are the Lakers and the Clippers attract
fans because all of the high-profile draft
picks year in and year out.
This
year the Clippers will be without number
one pick and high school messiah Shaun Livingston
due to and injury, but are carrying second
round pick Lionel Chalmers along with Chris
Wilcox and Chris Kaman.
The
Lakers who have been in the eye of the off-season
storm since they were dealt a crushing finals
defeat from the Detroit Pistons have few
bright spots which are on display here in
Long Beach.
New
Laker head coach and feel good guy of the
year Rudy Tomjanovich was on hand Tuesday
to watch the youngsters and see to an extent
what kind of hand he has been dealt.
Tomjanovish
or simply, "Rudy T" feels at home
here in Long Beach and has only great things
to say.
"This
is fantastic, it really feels good."
Tomjanovish said. "I feel very comfortable
here because it's a great facility and a
great summer league."
The
Lakers led by second year man Luke Walton
and rookies Sasha Vujacic and Marcus Douthit
lost to the Kings Tuesday, but play again
on Thursday against the Warriors.
The
SPL runs through July 25th and features
five games per day at: 10:30, 12:45, 3:00,
5:15 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available
at the Pyramid box office or visit: www.summerproleague.com
for additional information.
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