Gregg Popovich gives ex-Spur George Hill's dyed-blond hair a stroke of approval (VIDEO)

During Monday's game with the Indiana Pacers at the AT&T Center, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich had a little fun with Pacers point guard George Hill.

Pop hadn't had the chance to see Hill's new ultra-blond hairdo in person prior to this game, so he offered his opinion of it to his former player during a break in the action:

Since Popovich is widely known for his sharp sense of humor, we can only guess it came with a pointed quip.

i love the nba hahahahah pic.twitter.com/Np6TGxiPPD

— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) December 22, 2015

But he did compliment the Sisqo look after the game:

After the game, Gregg Popovich was asked about G. Hill’s hair. “I love it. I wish I had the guts he has. That could really turn some heads."

— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) December 22, 2015

Greg Popovich takes selfie with fan, asks for $10 (PHOTO)

Gregg Popovich is usually pretty tightly wound leading up to a game, but the San Antonio Spurs coach is known to have a little fun too.

This was evident when a reddit user named skillzdan ran into Pop in New York City. The Spurs were playing the Knicks, but the team came into the city a day early. According to skillzdan, he ran into the coach and wine connoisseur outside of a bar and then asked for a selfie.

Surprisingly, Popovich agreed.

From skillzdan on reddit:

Ran into Pop on 45th street in Midtown Manhattan last night. He was headed into a bar with who I presume was his wife. I was subject to the shortest most Pop interview ever. "Hey Pop can I get a selfie?!" "Yes."

We followed him into the bar but he was in a semi-private area with a bunch of very decorated military men. On his way out a few of my friends snapped another pic with him and that was all she wrote. Tried coming up with some small talk to bullshit with him about but... It's Pop. No small talk with that guy. He jokingly asked for $10 after the selfie and then laughed his way out of my life.

Now if you mentioned that the 1999 Domaine de la Romance Conti La Tache is a full-bodied gem of a wine that goes well with chicken topped with Parmesan and prosciutto ... then your talking.

Gregg Popovich tells Danny Green to 'Shut the f--k up' (VIDEO)

After coming back from a 14-point deficit, the Spurs looked like they were ready for an amazing victory against the Nets at Barclays Center Wednesday night.

That was until Danny Green made a last second foul that sent Spurs coach Gregg Popovich into a frenzy.

A livid Pops started screaming "Shut the f--- up" at Green even before the players got near the bench.

Coach Pop yelling at Danny Green and tells him to "shut the f**k up!" Popovich got no chill. https://t.co/OFCrEUFC5M
— NBA SKITS (@NBA_Skits) December 4, 2014

Here's the video:



The Nets held on for a 95-93 victory over the defending champions.

Popovich blows off Phil Jackson's 'dynasty' diss with a little humor: Report

Shortly after Phil Jackson was named Knicks president, he was discussing Carmelo Anthony's impending free agency and mentioned how Tim Duncan took less money to give the San Antonio Spurs more financial flexibility. Jackson went on to say that he didn't consider the Spurs to be a true dynasty despite having won four championships — now five after adding another in June — since 1999.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had remained pretty quiet about his longtime rival's subtle diss until it was mentioned Wednesday night before his team played the Nets in Brooklyn.

When reminded about Jackson's claim, the normally humorless Popovich came through with a response dripping with sarcasm.

“Ooh, that makes me mad,” Popovich said with a scrunched face — drawing laughs from the assembled media.

“Just write whatever you want, and I’ll say I said it. Make it good, though, so you get a promotion. Juicy, ugly, and I’ll say, ‘Yeah, I said it and I’m really sorry.’ … Have fun with it.”

Later, Pop asked about Phil's claim that the Spurs were not a dynasty. Pop scrunches his face, says "Ooooh that makes me mad."
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) December 3, 2014

Before that exchange, Popovich was asked about the challenges the new Knicks honcho is facing while trying to turn the team around.

“That’s his problem,” Popovich said. “I will spend no time thinking or wondering about that. I have a job. Why would I care about his job?” 

Thats more like the Pops we've all come to know and love.

Derek Jeter named 11th greatest leader in the world by Fortune: Report

Derek Jeter may have a batting average some 300 points below the league leaders so far this spring, but the New York Yankees captain is among the front runners in another category. 

Namely — leading the world.

Fortune magazine compiled a list of the top 50 greatest leaders in the world — and the shortstop's name landed at 11, just outside a top 10 that include influential movers and shakers like Pope Francis, Warren Buffett, Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama.

"As he begins his 20th and final season in pinstripes, Jeter remains the type of role-model player that even a Red Sox fan must grudgingly respect," CNN wrote. "It's not the five World Series rings he's won or his team record for career hits. In a steroid-tainted, reality-TV era, Jeter, the son of two Army veterans, continues to stand out because of his old-school approach: Never offer excuses or give less than maximum effort."

The honored spot puts Jeets ahead of other leaders including former New York mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg, 16-year-old human rights advocate Malala Yousafzai and actress and activist Angelina Jolie.

Along with about 40 other people I admittedly know little about.

Other sports figures who appeared on the list include Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, San Antonio Spurs skipper Gregg Popovich and South Carolina women's coach Dawn Staley  who all tied for 20th place.

Nobody will ever doubt the pinstriped prince's dignified authority on the diamond and contributions off it, but Jeter himself will probably just smile and shake his head at this accolade.

Mayor Bloomberg: Stephen Jackson didn't step on waitress, I 'pushed' him

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has forced a lot of his agenda on the citizens of New York City — third terms, bike lanes, banning trans-fat and 32-ounce drinks — and some may label him a bully.  Now, it sounds like the billionaire mayor has taken his strong-arm tactics down to his courtside seats at Madison Square Garden.

Last Thursday, after Spurs forward Stephen Jackson left the game with a sprained ankle during the Knicks 100-83 win,  believed to have happened when Jackson tripped over a waitress who was crouching next to the court serving the mayor a drink.

Not so, Bloomberg said yesterday at a press conference in the Bronx.

"He didn't fall on her, " Bloomberg revealed.  "He came close and I just pushed him a little bit."

Say what? Was the mayor channeling his inner Charles Oakley to get an assist for the Knicks?

"I wasn't helping [the Knicks]," he said of his sixth man status but added. "It would be great for New York" if both the Knicks and Nets made the playoffs.



Jackson tripped and rolled the ankle after attempting a three point shot and falling backwards. He missed the rest of the game and the next one too.

Bloomberg indicated that his "push" was just instinctive.

It isn't the first time Jackson has made headlines for a physical encounter with a fan.  It was Jackson and former St. John's star Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace) who rumbled in the stands during the infamous Malice at the Palace in 2004.


Whether or not Jackson stepped on the waitress or got boxed out by the diminutive mayor is a moot point to Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.  Pops called the incident a "mayoral mishap" but is calling on all NBA teams to keep the sidelines less cluttered during the game.

Does that mean getting rid of Spike Lee?

Tony Parker cleared for Olympics after eye injury from club melee

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker has been given clearance to play for France in the Olympic Games after the the NBA team's doctors agreed that he has recovered from an eye injury suffered as a bystander in a Manhattan nightclub bottle-tossing brawl.

Parker scratched his left cornea during the wild fight and has been wearing special eyeglasses since the June 17 incident.

"The ophthalmologists (from the Spurs) confirmed the opinion of the French doctor who operated on Tony Parker, and the two Swiss specialists also examined the player last Thursday, and indicated that he can resume playing playing," the French Basketball Federation said on Friday, adding that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also gave his blessing.

Parker is joining the French team in Orleans and he could play in a tuneup against England on Saturday.

France's first game at the Olympics is against the United States on July 29.

"It is great news and a relief for the whole French team," said coach Vincent Collet.  "I spoke with Tony on the phone and he sounded very happy— and also releived— about his development.  It was a difficult and alarming situation for everyone."

Parker was included on the team's 12-man roster even as he waited to see if he would be cleared to play.  The French team is already without the services of Joakim Noah who will miss the Olympics because of an ankle injury.

Parker was hit by flying glass after a brawl broke out at the Soho nightclub W.i.P. between members of rappers Chris Brown and Drake's entourages. Parker has said he was sitting with his friend Brown when the trouble started.  Six other people were hurt in the early morning fight.

Parker has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the operators of the club.