Newsmakers

Mon., Jan. 25, 2010

From Staff And Wire Reports

Absent Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd missed the team’s game against the New York Knicks because of personal reasons. The Mavericks said before the game Sunday that Kidd returned to Dallas after their loss in Philadelphia on Friday night. Owner Mark Cuban said it was a family matter, and the point guard is expected to play Tuesday when the Mavs return home to host Milwaukee.

Injured NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has a torn knee ligament and won’t have surgery to repair it until after the upcoming NASCAR season. Hamlin says he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee playing basketball on Friday. The injury was first reported by ESPN.com after Hamlin pulled out of a skills competition for NASCAR drivers hosted by the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats. Hamlin is the popular preseason pick to unseat four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson this year.

•Denver Nuggets guard Carmelo Anthony, the NBA’s second-leading scorer, went in for treatment on his left ankle, which he sprained in overtime Saturday night, and said he would miss Denver’s game against Charlotte tonight. Anthony said his ankle didn’t swell overnight and that he didn’t feel it was a serious injury.

Collapsed Samford coach Jimmy Tillette has been transferred to a Birmingham, Ala., hospital after collapsing during a game in Greensboro, N.C. The 59-year-old Tillette was airlifted to UAB Hospital for further testing and observation Sunday afternoon. The coach was in stable condition. Tillette fell on the bench and then to the floor after suffering a seizure during the second half of Saturday’s 70-67 victory over North Carolina-Greensboro.

Troubled The Denver Nuggets are talking about a possible punishment for sulking guard J.R. Smith, whose behavior has rubbed management the wrong way. Smith didn’t attend an optional practice Sunday, after which coach George Karl described his behavior on the bench Saturday night as “eclectic.” One possibility is a suspension for Smith, who has been mired in a season-long slump and evidently was pouting Saturday night when he played a season-low 12 minutes in Denver’s 116-110 win over New Orleans.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Newsmakers

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Report: Stetson transfer, Washington native Ethan Copeland holds Zoom call with Gonzaga

Updated: Gonzaga extends record winning streak | College baseball roundup

Record-setting Whitworth women claim NWC track and field title, ending George Fox's dynastic run