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Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Kobe Bryant gives $5,000 to family of slain Fullerton girl-
Lakers player's representative tells school administrator he was 'sickened' by the tragedy.
By BARBARA GIASONE
The Orange County Register
FULLERTON - Three days after Nicolas Junior High eighth-grader Janette Jimenez was found dying in her home, a representative of Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant arrived at the school with a $5,000 donation for the family.
"The publicist said Kobe was sickened by (the tragedy) when he saw it on the news," Nicolas Assistant Principal Olga Hofreiter said today. "We told him the money could be used for relocation or funeral costs. ...The family didn't want to go back into the house."
Janette, 13, was found by her father a week ago bleeding to death from multiple stab wounds, Fullerton police Sgt. Linda King said. Minutes later, Alberto Jimenez found a man, later identified as renter Damon Flores, 40, dead in another room.
King said police are handling the case as a murder-suicide by Flores.
The Nicolas staff and administrators collected $2,000 in personal donations Friday. Neighbors held a car-wash fundraiser Saturday as well.
Also, Hofreiter said, students were asked to bring donations, food and sympathy cards or letters that would be forwarded to the family.
"We also have counselors available," she added.
Janette, an honors student, would have been in advanced choir this fall.
"She was a beautiful example of a good student - very sweet, helpful and kind to people," Hofreiter said.
Fullerton police Community Services officer Alma Buis, who has been assisting the family, said a private viewing and funeral service would be held this week.
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Lakers sign guard Pinnock
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - Danilo (J.R.) Pinnock, the 58th pick in the NBA draft earlier this summer, has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers .
Pinnock, a 6-foot-5 guard who entered the draft following his junior year at George Washington , was taken by the Dallas Mavericks before being traded to the Lakers for a 2007 second-round draft choice.
Pinnock averaged 14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals for George Washington last season. He then played for the Lakers in the Summer Pro League and averaged 10.6 points and 2.3 assists in 24.5 minutes.
Terms were not announced Wednesday by the Lakers.
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Danilo "J.R." Pinnock To Make Lakers Roster?
By Eric Pincus
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Sep 7, 2006, 05:18
The Los Angeles Lakers signed guard Danilo "J.R." Pinnock to a contract on Wednesday. Pinnock was taken as the 58th pick in the draft by the Dallas Mavericks, who subsequently traded him to the Lakers for Miami's 2007 second round pick (part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade).
Though terms were not released, it is probable that either all or most of Pinnock's contract is not guaranteed.
Pinnock played well for the Lakers' summer league entry in Long Beach. At 6'5", 207 pounds, Pinnock is an athletic guard with the raw tools to be a contributor on both sides of the ball given a year or two of NBA seasoning.
Considering the number of players already on the team, it was somewhat of a surprise that the Lakers and Pinnock agreed to terms this summer. The initial word was that LA had urged Pinnock to play overseas. This would have enabled the team to retain his rights while delaying his signing for (at least) a year.
Now that he is signed, the Lakers will lose his rights should he not make the team out of training camp.
Certainly the team has a plan to make room for Pinnock, considering they went through the trouble of trading for him this summer?
Not necessarily. In a similar situation a few years back, the Lakers traded for Cory Hightower who signed with the team . . . but failed to make the squad.
If cut, Pinnock could play for the Laker owned NBDL franchise, the Los Angeles D-Fenders. This assumes that not only is he willing, but that another team (NBA or overseas) doesn't offer him a more lucrative deal.
Currently the Lakers have 13 players with guaranteed contracts. Excluding Pinnock, three have non or partially-guaranteed deals (Ronny Turiaf, Smush Parker and Von Wafer). With the NBA roster limit at 15, two other Lakers would have to go to make room for Pinnock.
The battle for position will be held in training camp. Wafer is probably the most likely cut as his game does not seem to fit within the triangle offense. Parker and Turiaf would seem to be locks to return . . . though Turiaf did have an occurrence of chest pain while playing for the French national team. After all he went through last year to make the club following heart surgery; hopefully it was nothing serious that would put his season (or life) at risk.
The Lakers are also expected to bring back Devin Green, currently a restricted free agent. Waiting in the wings is unrestricted free agent Laron Profit, who was a solid contributor last season before rupturing his Achilles' tendon.
Pinnock would not only have to beat out Wafer, but Green, Profit and one additional Laker (who in all likelihood has a guaranteed deal).
The most obvious option would have the Lakers buying out the contract of Aaron McKie. Should that be the answer, LA would have to pay McKie his $2.5 million in salary. More importantly they would lose a movable contract should a trade opportunity present itself. It would be a shame to miss out on a nice player because the Lakers were a few million short in outgoing salary.
In theory, LA could make a two for one deal before the season begins to open a spot. Players that might be available include Chris Mihm, Brian Cook, Sasha Vujacic and McKie. The Lakers can even send a player out to a team with a trade exception or cap room to open a spot.
If a deal is in the works or is being sought out, the Lakers have been very quiet about it. The late summer buzz has been notably absent considering LA's early acquisitions of Vladimir Radmanovic and Shammond Williams.
The Bottom Line
If the Lakers get a chance to improve the club before opening night , they will act accordingly.
That said . . . what you see is what you get.
The Laker roster will change slightly along the edges but had been essentially set since mid July.
The signing of Pinnock is a slight wrinkle. Should he make the team, something will have to give.
Look for a very competitive Laker training camp come October.
7even:
too bad money can't buy everything
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Kobe- "Team USA needs better chemistry to win gold"
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The U.S. basketball team will have to work on its internal chemistry if it wants to perform well at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Kobe Bryant said Thursday.
The Los Angeles Lakers' All-Star guard was visiting Taiwan on a five-leg tour of Asia to meet with fans.
Last Sunday, the U.S. players returned home from the world championship in Japan with bronze medals -- just like the country won at the 2004 Olympics.
Both results were widely seen as disappointments.
Bryant, 27, told a news conference in Taipei that a newly assembled team always needed some time together before starting to play with consistency.
"Years playing together will jell us as a unit, [but] if there is no chemistry, it's going to be tough to beat all those talented teams," he said.
Bryant said he was confident the two years up to the Beijing Olympics would be enough to find that chemistry.
Bryant's tour took him to Japan and Hong Kong. On Friday, the basketball star was scheduled to leave Taiwan for South Korea. He will also visit China.
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