Treo 750v

Here is a first look at the Treo 750v, which I expect will come to Australia in the near future.

Microsoft Zune - New iPod Competitor

Check out the new Microsoft competitor to the Apple iPod. This video shows off the interface of the device. No pricing or release date have been provided at this stage, but this device certainly should hot up the MP3 market.

Forfeits even happen at the top level

It is never nice for a team to forfeit a game. It happens quite regularly in local competitions that I am involved with. But when it is an internationa team at a World Championships, I think it is newsworth. Check out this article from News.com.au.

Lithuania had to forfeit to the Australian Opals because they could not arrive at the venue on time for their game. A flight cancellation meant that the Lithuania's had to travel through a different country to reach Brazil, which required them to receive yellow fever shots before they left. They obviously did not have enough time. Do you reckon their manager will get the sack?

Chad Ford on Brad Newley

ESPN's Chad Ford wrote about the NBA prospects that played for their respective countries at the FIBA World Championships in Japan. Here is what he had to say about our own Brad Newley:

Brad Newley, SG, Australia (currently ranked No. 73)
Stats at Worlds: 20.5 mpg, 8.2 ppg, 46-percent shooting, 43 percent from 3

Newley declared for the 2006 NBA draft, worked out for a half-dozen teams and played in the Orlando pre-draft camp this spring. Scouts raved about his toughness, basketball savvy and his quickness off the dribble. However, he was unable to distinguish himself at the draft camp and made a quick decision to pull out of the draft and try things again next season.

I personally was impressed with what I saw over a one-week period of his training at Tim Grover's ATTACK Athletics in Chicago alongside Shannon Brown, Rajon Rondo, Dee Brown and other top prospects. While the game was clearly more uptempo than what he was used to, he fit in.

Newley made another important step toward the NBA this summer with a solid performance for Australia. Like several of the other prospects on the list, his best game was also against the U.S. He posted 15 points and knocked down three 3-pointers against the U.S. in a blowout loss.

Another year fine-tuning his jump shot and another spring getting acclimated to the speed of the NBA and Newley is a likely second-round pick with a shot at the late first round.

To read the whole article, check out: Chad Ford Blog.