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Life in the NBA wasn’t as glamorous as Cartwright had imagined, he said. ”We flew commercial, and we stayed in not-bad hotels” such as Days Inn, Cartwright said. With a per diem allowance of about $14 a day, he often ate at Denny’s. “I remember my favorite was their Super Bird special,” featuring a sliced turkey breast sandwich and French fries, Cartwright recalled. “It was great.”
The NCAA remains dependent on cheap labor to fill its buildings and fuel its championships and sell its jerseys – the ones often featuring a player’s names on the back, from which players, until now, haven’t been able to profit – and make its product compelling enough to get $10.8 billion from Turner and CBS for the tournament over 14 years. The yearly money smaller schools get from the networks through their respective conferences often represents the lion’s share of their annual athletic budgets, while the players who provide that value with their excellence at all levels get little above room and board. It’s like if Tom Cruise or Denzel Washington made blockbuster movies year after year, and were consistently rewarded with a one-bedroom off of La Cienega and vouchers at Denny’s. “Kids are tired of dealing with the NCAA,” one prominent agent said.
“Thibs, I’m so happy to be with you again,” Butler started. “I’m training. I’m excited. I’m ready to show the world. I’m ready to motherf------ go!” Thibodeau let him rant. “O.K., Jimmy,” he said. “We’ll talk. Enjoy your time in Paris.” Butler looked dumbfounded at the phone, as if an impersonator were on the other line. Enjoy your time in Paris. “Hmm,” Butler thought. “That’s weird.” The next day he ate dinner at Chez l’Ami Louis, a 93-year-old bistro with a dozen tables that was recommended by Mark Wahlberg. Over escargot he broke up laughing at the ludicrousness of his working life, which started back at Denny’s in Tomball, where he quit on his first day after accidentally dousing a table of customers with a tray of drinks.
Shane Battier celebrated the Heat's NBA title with a Grand Slam. The former Duke star, who poured in 18 points off the bench in Miami's 95-88 Game 7 win over the Spurs on Thursday night, tweeted a photo of his low-key celebration at a local Denny's after LeBron James and company's second straight title. "Denny's. a championship tradition. #Grandslam," the 12-year NBA veteran tweeted Friday morning.
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