BANNER 18

WALTHAM, Mass. -- After disappearing for much of the regular season, the green-and-white "18" sign that encourages the Celtics towards an 18th NBA title, has returned to a utility pole along Winter St., about a quarter mile from where the Celtics practice at the Sports Authority Training Center at HealthPoint.

The "18" originally started as a "17" and served as inspiration for the Celtics during the 2008 postseason, where it won the franchise's 17th NBA title. The sign then reemerged as an "18" during last year's playoffs, then came back near the start of the 2009-10 regular season before quickly going into hibernation.

The sign returned a few days ago. It's hitting .500 for its career. Let's see what it brings during these 2010 playoffs. 

The Boston Celtics are World Champions!

After a 22 year drought, the Boston Celtics are the NBA's Champions. The offseason additions of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett brought a "Big Three" back to Boston. Notching the best record of the year, and the biggest single season win/loss turnaround, the Celtics dominated the NBA from November to June. The Celtics demolished the Lakers in Game 6 of the Finals to secure their first championship since 1986. Banner 17 has been raised!

Banner 18 is Next!

The Dynasty has just begun! Although James Posey left for a long term deal with the the Hornets, most of the Championship team will be on the court together for the 2009-2010 Celtics season. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis, Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins are all set to be a part of next season's squad. Among the free agents who are still undecided are Despite losing long-time player Leon Powe to the Cavaliers, the same core of the dominant championship team is still there, along with new addition Ben Wallace.

Athletic Propulsion Labs (Banned in NBA)

Athletic Propulsion Labs’ $300 Concept 1 shoe implements a spring-based system which claims to increase lift.

The twins Adam and Ryan Goldston founded the Los Angeles-based company, both former USC basketball walk-ons whose father worked in the shoe industry. The brothers said they drop names of NBA players who expressed interest with shoes because the players had signed with other companies. They claim that several NBA players, including about 30 percent of the rookies are interested with the sneakers.

The NBA however released a statement on Tuesday that bans the use of the shoes. “Under league rules, players may not wear any shoe during a game that creates an undue competitive advantage,” the NBA said.

The claim of Athletic Propulsion Labs that the wearer gets extra lift when wearing the shoes, has a self-funded and presented report conducted by PHDs. The result of the study does drastically increase the height of jump of the wearer, but it can be considered substantial which caught the attention of NBA and led to its prohibition in the league.

What sells is not the self-funded study conducted by the company, it is the fact that NBA banned this shoes which they believe provides unfair advantage.

For the first time in its 64-year history, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has banned a new line of shoes based on the league's rule against an "unfair competitive advantage" that increases a player's vertical leap. The league's ban on Athletic Propulsion Labs' Concept 1 confirms the company's claims that the shoe, with its Load ‘N Launch^TM Technology, performs as advertised. No professional player will be allowed to wear the product in games for the upcoming 2010-2011 NBA season.

This action comes on the 25^th anniversary of the NBA's ban on Nike's Air Jordan shoes, albeit for reasons of their colorful appearance rather than any performance advantage.

Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) was notified by a senior NBA official who stated, "League rules regulate the footwear that players may wear during an NBA game. Under league rules, players may not wear any shoe during a game ‘that creates an undue competitive advantage (e.g., to increase a player's vertical leap).' In light of that rule...players will not be permitted to wear the APL shoes during NBA games."

Bagyong Juan

MANILA, Philippines —  Typhoon Juan (international name: Megi) has moved slightly downward, putting Metro Manila and parts of southern Luzon on its range, the state weather bureau said.

In an 11 pm advisory on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed Metro Manila and nearby provinces on public storm warning signal number 1 after the typhoon changed its track in the past six hours.

Juan, a super-typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 225 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 260 kph, was now moving west southwest at 20 kph, slightly slower than the 22 kph issued in the 5 pm forecast. As of 10 pm, the typhoon was 290 km east northeast of Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
PAGASA official-in-charge Graciano Yumul Jr. said Metro Manila and other parts of southern Luzon will experience rains as it was now within the typhoon's rain band.

"Just because it's signal number one, it doesn't mean that we should not be prepared. Manila was only under signal number one during Ondoy," Yumul said, referring to last year's storm that flooded 80 percent of the metropolis.

Under Department of Education standards, elementary classes in Metro Manila and other areas under signal number 1 are suspended, Yumul said.
Aside from Metro Manila, Signal number 1 was placed over Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Polillio Island, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, northern Quezon and Rizal.

Signal number 2 was declared over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Benguet, and parts of Aurora.
The following provinces were placed under Signal number 3: Batanes, Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and northern Aurora.

Cagayan and Isabela remained under signal number 4, the ultimate public storm warning signal used by the PAGASA.

Kyusi Entertainment

Quezon City based record label founded in 2010. If you currently live or grew up in the amazing city of Q and you'd already be home, co’z we strive to bring real Filipino hip-hop music back to the people. Keep in mind; this is just a taste of hip-hop yet so powerful.