Commissioner Stern tweets with his buddy Shaq in his spare time.
(Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty Images)
2009 NBA All-Star officially tipped off with an opening ceremony that was held at Jam Session on Thursday afternoon. The event was hosted by legendary Suns broadcaster Al McCoy and attended by NBA Commissioner David Stern, Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver, Suns President & COO Rick Welts, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, City Councilman Michael Johnson, Head of adidas basketball Lawrence Norman, former Mercury star Jennifer Gillom and current Suns guard Leandro Barbosa.
The event not only signified the opening of Jam Session to the people of Phoenix, but it was also the first major event held in the renovated Phoenix Convention Center. Besides Jam Session, the convention center will house a series of events throughout the week that include the NBA’s Celebrity Game and the D-League All-Star Game.
For Phoenix, it is the third time that the city has hosted an All-Star Game, having already played host in 1975 and 1995. Jam Session already has created quite the buzz within the community, with the NBA having already received 5,000 volunteers from Valley locals, the most ever received by the league.
“We’re looking forward to the greatest All-Star ever,” Stern said.
Expecting over 100,000 people a day at Jam Session, thousands at the Block Party and even more at the local restaurants, downtown will be flooded like it never has been before.
“This is our downtown coming-out party,” the mayor said as he glanced towards the Commissioner. “We’re going to bring you back a lot sooner than the last one.”
Tomorrow, players and NBA figures will all participate in a Day of Service in conjunction with NBA Cares. Players throughout the league will physically go out into Phoenix and its surrounding areas and work to make the communities better.
For Suns owner Robert Sarver, the celebration is yet another example of how working in a unified manner can bring about success.
“I want to let everyone know how much teamwork went into all of this,” Sarver said as he gave credit to the police department, fire department and city manager’s office.
For Commissioner Stern, the entire All-Star gala just comes down to a celebration of basketball. He noted the grandiose improvements made to Phoenix since it last hosted All-Star, while praising the various generations of players that are involved.
Older players like Phoenix’s Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal will be involved a variety of All-Star activities this week, as will younger players like Cleveland’s LeBron James and Miami’s Dwyane Wade. Knowing that Shaq is near the end of his career, the Commissioner still recognizes his infinite value to the league.
“He’s ageless,” he said. “Actually, I have to check my phone to see if he’s tweeting me.”
If he was at that moment, he would be tweeting what Suns Hall of Fame broadcaster said to conclude the opening, “This year’s Jam Session is officially underway.”
Tags: adam silver, al mccoy, all-star, basketball, commissioner, david stern, jam session, jennifer gillom, Leandro Barbosa, nba, phil gordon, rick welts, robert sarver, Stefan Swiat
