|
PHILADELPHIA (AP) #8212;Julius Erving has denied an upcoming auction of hispersonal basketball memorabilia collection is tied to a lawsuit filed againsthim by a Georgia bank.Known on the hardwood as Dr. J, Erving tells The Associated Press onWednesday he #8217;s never been a #8220;hoarder or collector, #8221; and plans to donate aportion of the auction proceeds to the Salvation Army. Erving #821 free football streaming 7;s auctioncollection includes his 1983 NBA championship ring with the Philadelphia 76ers,a pair of ABA championship rings with the New York Nets, and MVP trophies fromeach league.The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Erving owes more than$200,000 on a loan with Georgia Primary Bank, according to a lawsuit filed inFulton Superior Court. The lawsuit was reported only hours after SCP Aucti free football streaming ons announced thatbidding would be open to registered bidders on Friday for many of Erving #8217;schampionship rings, important awards and game-used items. The timing ofTuesday #8217;s announcements led to speculation that Erving, voted one of the NBA #8217;s50 greatest players, was hocking goods because the Hall of Famer needed cash.Not true, he said. #8220;That irony actually gave me a sleepless free football streaming night last night, #8221; he said. #8220;Ihad to laugh at it and cringe at it that these stories would run concurrent withone another. #8221;The 61-year-old Erving said the auction was part of a long-plannedcelebration of his career. He said most of his cherished possessions were instorage and that he rarely looked at his collection. He said he occasionallywore his 1983 ring and never his ABA rin free football streaming gs. Erving said he will keep his Hall ofFame ring. His induction into the Hall of Fame came in 1993. #8220;My family is 100 percent behind it, #8221; he said. #8220;We decided to do it along time ago. To claim it #8217;s a firesale or to clear up some debt, I don #8217;t thinkso. You don #8217;t do an auction overnight. This has been long planned. We had 4,000catalogs that have been mailed alread free football streaming y to people who buy this kind of stuff. #8221;Be prepared to spend. Dr. J #8217;s goods don #8217;t come cheap. Items available atwww.scpauctions.com include: #8212; 1969-70 game-worn UMass jersey. Minimum bid: $15,000. #8212; 1974 New Jersey Nets ABA championship ring. Minimum bid: $20,000 #8212; 1975-76 ABA MVP trophy. Minimum bid: $10,000. #8212; 1983 Philadelphia 76ers NBA championship ring. M free football streaming inimum bid: $25,000.Yes, even a pair of game-worn Converse sneakers customized for the cultclassic, #8220;The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, #8221; are available for a minimum bid of$500.Just don #8217;t expect to soar through the air like Dr. J.His above-the-rim game, first unveiled in the renegade American BasketballAssociation, was a harbinger of the style that was soon to dominate. Erving wonpro free football streaming basketball #8217;s first slam-dunk competition, and his soaring reverse layup fromthe baseline during the 1980 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers was ahighlight for the ages. #8220;With me being involved in the process and the one that #8217;s putting it out,it #8217;s actually a better situation economically then if my children orgrandchildren were to do it, #8221; Erving said. #8220;We free football streaming decided now #8217;s the time. #8221;Still, Erving has been hit with finanical issues since he moved to Atlanta,the newspaper reported. The AJC reported in April 2010 that a golf club Ervingpurchased was in foreclosure. The bank filed a lawsuit Oct. 18 against Ervingand his corporation, The Erving Group Inc. of Atlanta. Erving #8217;s company wasgiven a $1 million line of credit in April 2009, whic free football streaming h was due the followingApril, according to the lawsuit obtained by the AJC.In the lawsuit, the bank stated an outstanding balance of $205,277.84 hasnot been paid, despite a demand letter for payment sent Sept. 29.Erving said he visited the bank on Wednesday in an attempt to resolve theissue.Erving said he still works and lives off his present-day income, not anysavings. He #8217;s involved in a ce free football streaming ll phone business, a medical records company and ablood cord company.His marquee job is just being Dr. J. #8220;Every day there #8217;s something associated with Dr. J that I have to discusswith one or more of my personal associates or family members, #8221; he said.Erving is perhaps the greatest Sixer and the franchise hasn #8217;t won achampionship since `83. His sightings in the city and at Six free football streaming ers functions havebeen sparse and there was a disconnect between him and the team.The Sixers were recently sold to new owners that promised to strenghten thelink to their past. Majority owner Joshua Harris and Erving served together onthe board of directors at Converse, and Dr. J was recently back in thePhiladelphia area for a private reunion of the 1983 team. #8220;They are reaching out and they free football streaming are interested in their heritage and that #8217;sgood to see, #8221; Erving said.Bidding will be open to registered bidders on Oct. 28 and conclude Nov. 19.For more information on how to participate, visit www.scpauctions.com..Follow Dan Gelston at http://twitter.com/APgelston Fantasy Basketball '11 registration is open. Sign up today! And follow Yahoo! Sports' NBA coverage on Twitter. Updated free football streaming 4 hours, 52 minutes ago free football streaming
|