duncan228
02-10-2010, 01:32 AM
Nude Hill pictures published online (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Nude_Hill_pictures_published_online.html)
Jeff McDonald
LOS ANGELES — Spurs guard George Hill has issued an apology for a set of nude and sexually explicit photographs of him that have surfaced on the Internet.
The photos, taken sometime last year, recently appeared on the Web site thedirty.com.
“A year ago, I made a mistake and take full responsibility for my actions,” Hill, 23, said in a statement through the Spurs on Tuesday. “I have matured and learned from this episode. I would like to apologize to my girlfriend, my family, all of our great fans and the Spurs organization.”
Meanwhile, the Spurs have dispatched lawyers in attempts to have Hill's photos removed from the site.
Citing trademark infringement and claiming the photos were “disseminated illegally and without permission,” the firm Bracewell & Giuliani — which represents the Spurs — has sent a cease-and-desist letter to thedirty.com.
The legal missive, first obtained by the celebrity gossip site TMZ.com, demands that thedirty.com “immediately and permanently remove the photographs and all references to the Spurs.”
So far, the Web site has denied the team's request. In his reply, David Gringas, the attorney representing thedirty.com and its founder, Nik Richie, called the Spurs' claims, “totally without merit.”
“Trademark law does not apply to criticism of celebrities making fools of themselves,” Gringas wrote.
Hill is the second NBA player in recent weeks to apologize for naked photos. Portland's Greg Oden issued a similar mea culpa when pictures of him emerged two weeks ago.
The bright side? The Spurs' season, uneven and disappointing to date, has not left them too far in the dust of the Western Conference race.
At 29-21, the Spurs began Tuesday tied with Oklahoma City for sixth, but remained just 21/2 games behind Dallas and Utah, which were tied for third.
“The only silver lining, if there is such a thing, is the whole league is pretty poor,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “Within a couple games, you're 11 or you're second. A lot of teams are going through this for some strange reason.”
Second-half McDyess: Spurs center Antonio McDyess is beginning to make good on his reputation as a second-half player.
In nine games since the season hit its official halfway point, McDyess is averaging 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 55.5 percent. He had just four points in Monday's loss to the Lakers but did grab 12 rebounds, two off his season high.
“It's not to say I'm not going to have bad games, but I'm going to try my damnedest not to,” McDyess said. “I feel a lot more comfortable. I'm not thinking as much. I'm just playing now.”
Jeff McDonald
LOS ANGELES — Spurs guard George Hill has issued an apology for a set of nude and sexually explicit photographs of him that have surfaced on the Internet.
The photos, taken sometime last year, recently appeared on the Web site thedirty.com.
“A year ago, I made a mistake and take full responsibility for my actions,” Hill, 23, said in a statement through the Spurs on Tuesday. “I have matured and learned from this episode. I would like to apologize to my girlfriend, my family, all of our great fans and the Spurs organization.”
Meanwhile, the Spurs have dispatched lawyers in attempts to have Hill's photos removed from the site.
Citing trademark infringement and claiming the photos were “disseminated illegally and without permission,” the firm Bracewell & Giuliani — which represents the Spurs — has sent a cease-and-desist letter to thedirty.com.
The legal missive, first obtained by the celebrity gossip site TMZ.com, demands that thedirty.com “immediately and permanently remove the photographs and all references to the Spurs.”
So far, the Web site has denied the team's request. In his reply, David Gringas, the attorney representing thedirty.com and its founder, Nik Richie, called the Spurs' claims, “totally without merit.”
“Trademark law does not apply to criticism of celebrities making fools of themselves,” Gringas wrote.
Hill is the second NBA player in recent weeks to apologize for naked photos. Portland's Greg Oden issued a similar mea culpa when pictures of him emerged two weeks ago.
The bright side? The Spurs' season, uneven and disappointing to date, has not left them too far in the dust of the Western Conference race.
At 29-21, the Spurs began Tuesday tied with Oklahoma City for sixth, but remained just 21/2 games behind Dallas and Utah, which were tied for third.
“The only silver lining, if there is such a thing, is the whole league is pretty poor,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “Within a couple games, you're 11 or you're second. A lot of teams are going through this for some strange reason.”
Second-half McDyess: Spurs center Antonio McDyess is beginning to make good on his reputation as a second-half player.
In nine games since the season hit its official halfway point, McDyess is averaging 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 55.5 percent. He had just four points in Monday's loss to the Lakers but did grab 12 rebounds, two off his season high.
“It's not to say I'm not going to have bad games, but I'm going to try my damnedest not to,” McDyess said. “I feel a lot more comfortable. I'm not thinking as much. I'm just playing now.”