Injured Iverson out as All-Star

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02/13/2007 -

DENVER (AP) -Allen Iverson will skip the All-Star Game because of a sprained right ankle that has bothered him for two weeks.

Iverson was chosen as a reserve to the Western Conference squad for Sunday's game in Las Vegas, but the Denver Nuggets guard has missed seven of his last eight games after spraining his right ankle Jan. 29. The eight-time All-Star aggravated the injury Feb. 6 against New Orleans.

``Here is a guy who has always played with injuries and always played banged up. So if he's not able to play in the All-Star game he must be really hurt,'' teammate Marcus Camby said Tuesday.

More than being a tough guy, Camby suggested, Iverson is a team player.

``I think we need him more in Denver than they need him in Las Vegas,'' Camby said. ``We want him to come back healthy in the second half of the season. It is going to be huge for us. The schedule isn't in our favor. We have a lot of road games.''

The showcase game will now be missing two of the league's premier guards. Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns withdrew Monday because of a shoulder inflammation.

Also Tuesday, the Nets said star point guard Jason Kidd will miss the next two games because of a back strain. The Nets had no information on whether he'll play in Las Vegas.

Iverson won't play against Minnesota on Wednesday night in the Nuggets' last game before the All-Star break. He hopes to return Feb. 20 at San Antonio when the regular season resumes.

Since coming to Denver in a Dec. 19 trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson has only played five games with Camby and Carmelo Anthony, the league's leading scorer, who was selected by commissioner David Stern last week as an injury replacement for the West All-Stars.

Iverson has averaged 26.8 points and 7.8 assists in 20 games for the Nuggets since being acquired from the 76ers on Dec. 19. For the year, his 28.7-point average is tied for third in the league.

Iverson wasn't at practice Tuesday but issued a statement through the team.

``I'm very disappointed that I can't play right now,'' Iverson said. ``I was really looking forward to representing the Nuggets in my first All-Star Game with the West. However, I need to make sure my ankle is 100 percent for the stretch run.''

Iverson, who earned All-Star MVP honors at the 2001 and '05 games, was selected as a starter by fans seven times during his decade in Philadelphia.

``I want to thank the Western Conference coaches for selecting me and my teammates and coaching staff for putting me in a position to succeed,'' he said. ``I couldn't have made it without them. I also want to thank all the fans who have supported me and that voted for me as a starter. I wish I could play for you all.''

Iverson began thinking about missing the All-Star game after his return to the lineup Feb. 6, when he admittedly rushed back too soon to help his struggling team. He couldn't drive past his man, however, and ended up shooting jumpers all night in an overtime loss to Charlotte.

``I couldn't be me on the basketball court,'' he said that night.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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