Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Joel Przybilla is leaving his friends behind and setting off to the west coast in a new reality-based sitcom to be calledJoel, which starts broadcasting November 3, barring injury. The spin-off to last year's popular comedy known as the Atlanta Hawks will focus on the antics of the lovable Przybilla as he grapples with relocating to Portland, tendonitis, and rebounding.
One of the early dramatic arcs will involve a head-to-head competition between the hero Przybilla and the "evil" Vladimir Stepania that is expected to be filmed as a send-up ofRocky 4. In the end, Przybilla and Stepania will become best friends, and possibly move in together. The producers feel the Joel character could use a roommate, and Stepania's antics could remind one of Balky on the old hit sitcomPerfect Strangers.
Przybilla was inked to a two-year contract at a portion of the $1.6 million lower level exception. The producers are hoping that the recurring themes of being both a rebounding powerhouse and a foul-prone defender will integrate well with more rustic episodes where he is unable to play due to tendonitis in his knees. Last season, Przybilla only appeared in 12 games with the Hawks but was clearly a fan favorite of the funny team.
Przybilla reportedly does not want other former Hawks joining him on his new set, as he wants to show in a veryMary Tyler Mooreway that he can make it on his own.
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The Atlanta Hawks are looking for talented, enthusiastic individuals with a love of performing to become a part of the 2004-05 Atlanta Hawks Dance Team. Preliminary auditions for the squad are slated for Sunday, September 12 on the Hawks Practice Court at Philips Arena. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m... A pre-audition workshop will be offered on Wednesday, September 8, also on the Hawks Practice Court. This “prep clinic” serves as an overview of the Atlanta Hawks Dance Team program, while offering instruction and preparation for the audition. Cost is $25 per person to attend and all participants must be registered in advance.
Ireland Onlinewrites: Matt Le Blanc has asked his Friends pals to stay off-camera for the first series of his spin-off sitcomJoeybecause he wants to prove he can make it alone.The actor's Central Perk pals have all offered to play cameos in Le Blanc's debut season, but he doesn't want them around.
The Associated Press writes inThe Aberdeen American News: The Portland Trail Blazers said Wednesday they have signed free agent center Joel Przybilla, a former Minnesota Gopher who split the last NBA season between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks.Przybilla, 24, was an early entry candidate for the 2000 NBA draft and was chosen ninth in the first round by the Houston Rockets. He was sent to Milwaukee in a draft-day deal and played three seasons for the Bucks before he was traded to Atlanta last February.
Jason Quick ofThe Oregonianwrites: Looking for depth at backup center, the Trail Blazers on Wednesday signed 7-foot-1 free agent Joel Przybilla to a two-year contract. Przybilla, 24, has been plagued by tendinitis in his knees, which limited him to 17 games last season -- five with Milwaukee and 12 with Atlanta. He finished the season averaging 2.9 points and 6.5 rebounds. During his time with Atlanta, Pryzbilla had five consecutive games of at least 10 rebounds, including back-to-back games when he had 15 and 14 rebounds, respectively."He's a limited offensive player, but as far as rebounding and shot blocking, he has a chance," general manager John Nash said. "We are hopeful that his flurry with Atlanta last season is more than that . . . a lot of big guys don't mature or develop until they are 25, and that's about where he is at now."
Andy Hutchison ofThe Fairfield Minutemanwrites: [Keirsten] Sires was selected to play tennis in the World Friendship Games in Europe, where she competed in the Netherlands Classic, this past July. A past participant of the program, Atlanta Hawks basketball player Al Harrington, came back to give an inspirational talk to the young athletes.He was someone to look up to (literally) for the 12-19-year-old participants. "He was tall - he was really tall," said Sires, adding that he had to bend down to get into a photo taken with her.