The epic Jordan-led summer pickup games on the set of 'Space Jam'
Michael Jordan was fresh off the sting of what would turn out to be the
last playoff series loss of his career, to the Orlando Magic in the
second round. Movie or no movie, he was determined to return to his
place atop the NBA. So he ordered the construction of a tented hardwood
basketball court on the Warner Bros. studio lot and laced up his
Concords. Word got out, and an array of NBA players came through.
Besides the movie co-stars such as Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley,
Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson, there were the likes of Grant Hill,
Rod Strickland, Glen Rice, Dennis Rodman, Juwan Howard, Steve Smith and
Cedric Ceballos. Shaquille O'Neal came by. Magic Johnson, less than a
year shy of his return to the NBA, made an appearance. Reggie Miller
showed up for what turned into a clear-out-and-let-em-go-at-it game,
with the trash talk flying.
"It was like an NBA all-star game
every day," said Tracy Murray, who was coming off the third season of
his 11-year pro career that summer.
Except it had regular-season
intensity. So many players showed up that losing meant a two- or
three-game wait to get back on the court. Veteran center Olden Polynice
came by and made the mistake of thinking, "It's the summertime, they're
going to be bulls----ing."
"Come to find out, they weren't bulls----ing," Polynice said.
Murray
credits the cutthroat competition with priming him for a breakout
season -- he made 116 more 3-pointers and his scoring average jumped by
11 points, setting him up for a nice free-agent contract that provided
the bulk of the $22 million he made in his career.
For Jordan, it was the launchpad to the Bulls' record-setting 72-10 season, capped by a championship.
(ESPN.com)
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
It's Back Again, Only For An Extremely Exclusive Clientel
The legendary Aston Martin DB4 GT is reborn
Twenty five continuation models extend the original 1959-63 run.
The new cars will wear VIN numbers that pick up from the end of the first run in '63. They will use a version of the Tardek Marek-designed straight six-cylinder engine making an SAE-rated 331 horsepower with three twin-choke Weber carburetors. Though it's a straight six like the original, Aston started "from scratch" with the new one, a spokesman said, drawing on the DB11's supplier for the castings. Modern elements, like an FIA-spec roll cage, fire extinguisher, and seat belts will also be added. It will weigh 2,706 pounds.
The DB4 GT employs a four-speed David Brown manual gearbox. The car rides on a tubular frame with an independent front suspension; the rear is a Watts linkage setup and both use coil springs. The fuel tank holds 36 gallons, which should prove useful for racing.
In that vein, these 25 will be track-only models, and buyers will be able to participate in an international driving program that spans two years and visits circuits like Yas Marina. Owners can receive training from Aston experts like Darren Turner, who counts several class victories at Le Mans.
The cost? About $1.9 million at the prevailing exchange rates as of this writing. Aston will begin delivering the DB4 GTs in summer 2017. It joins the growing field of nostalgic continuations, like the Jaguar XKSS, that pick up where the original lineage left off.
(AutoBlog.com)
Twenty five continuation models extend the original 1959-63 run.
The new cars will wear VIN numbers that pick up from the end of the first run in '63. They will use a version of the Tardek Marek-designed straight six-cylinder engine making an SAE-rated 331 horsepower with three twin-choke Weber carburetors. Though it's a straight six like the original, Aston started "from scratch" with the new one, a spokesman said, drawing on the DB11's supplier for the castings. Modern elements, like an FIA-spec roll cage, fire extinguisher, and seat belts will also be added. It will weigh 2,706 pounds.
The DB4 GT employs a four-speed David Brown manual gearbox. The car rides on a tubular frame with an independent front suspension; the rear is a Watts linkage setup and both use coil springs. The fuel tank holds 36 gallons, which should prove useful for racing.
In that vein, these 25 will be track-only models, and buyers will be able to participate in an international driving program that spans two years and visits circuits like Yas Marina. Owners can receive training from Aston experts like Darren Turner, who counts several class victories at Le Mans.
The cost? About $1.9 million at the prevailing exchange rates as of this writing. Aston will begin delivering the DB4 GTs in summer 2017. It joins the growing field of nostalgic continuations, like the Jaguar XKSS, that pick up where the original lineage left off.
(AutoBlog.com)
Fun To Own, Not Fun To Maintain
Here Are Ten Forgotten Supercars You Can Buy For Less Than $35,000
4. 1993 Mercedes-Benz SL600 w/Renntech 7.0 liter V12
4. 1993 Mercedes-Benz SL600 w/Renntech 7.0 liter V12
- This SL600, before any modification, was already an insanely capable cruiser. Its M120 V12 engine was capable of 400 horsepower out of the gate, which meant that it didn’t skip a beat cruising the autobahn at triple digit speeds. With the addition of a $30,000 Renntech 7.0-liter engine and 125 additional horsepower, the value for this car, at this price, is nearly unbeatable.
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