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Meanwhile, the Eurobasket report about president Hugo Chavez was rebuffed by Robert Gonzalez, Vasquez's agent in Venezuela, and by Rene Rincon, media consultant. "There's nothing with president Chavez. The only thing going on is the Greivis Vasquez project, an initiative to hold basketball clinics all over the country" said Rincon. El Universal

Memphis Grizzlies, Greivis Vasquez, Lockout, Venezuela 

Greivis Vasquez: So strange that @basketvenezuela hasn't written anything bad about me! What a failure theri comments.. #notienescoherencia Twitter

Greivis Vasquez, Venezuela 

This year's international tournaments are a godsend for basketball fans pining for any glimpse of their NBA favorites. Yet these games are not just fun diversions for the players involved. For most, they're the culmination of years of hard work and a chance to give their home countries a chance to compete in the London Olympics. For others, like Chris Kaman(notes), it's a chance to represent some far-off land where everyone speaks a guttural language they don't understand. That sounds fun, right? So, yes, players care. For proof, just watch the video above of Puerto Rican forward Renaldo Balkman (of the Knicks, in our NBA world) headbutting Venezuelan guard Greivis Vasquez (usually an employee of the Grizzlies) during a tussle at the FIBA Tournament of the Americas in Argentina. Yahoo! Sports

Greivis Vasquez, FIBA, Puerto Rico, Renaldo Balkman, Venezuela 

Former NBA head coach Eric Musselman, a former Magic assistant, knew he was still growing as a coach …..when John Calipari told him he had reached the same observation. Musselman is coaching the Venezuelan national team in the FIBA Americas tournament. Calipari --- the current Kentucky coach --- is leading the Dominican squad. "Talking with John, we both realized that, over here, you have to work on teaching and your communication so much more," said Musselman told me Friday night via Skype. "I know it's making me a better coach." Orlando Sentinel

Coaching, Eric Musselman, John Calipari, Venezuela 

Holly MacKenzie: Eric Musselman is kneeling as he coaches because of that torn achilles' tendon. That is intense, insane and awesome. Twitter

Coaching, Eric Musselman, Venezuela 

Griz reserve point guard Greivis Vasquez will play this month with Venezuela at the FIBA Americas Championship. The tourney will award two spots for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Vasquez did a Q&A with Hoopshype.com and said he'd consider playing abroad if the NBA lockout cost games. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Greivis Vasquez, Venezuela 

There has been a lot of political tension in Venezuela over the past few years. Is it a little better now? Greivis Vasquez: The political tension remains strong, but as an athlete I can only control the sports part. I think sports make people unite and the National Team make people come together no matter what their beliefs are. The soccer team did a great job and now it’s our turn to do our part and unite the country. As Venezuelans, we have to support each other. If we don’t support each other, who’s going to support us? How is the country reacting to Hugo Chavez’s illness? GV: Everybody is talking about it. Whatever happens, he’s the president of Venezuela. No matter what you believe in, you can’t have ill will towards anybody. I hope he gets better. I think he has cancer. It’s a serious disease, but you can recover from it. HoopsHype

Memphis Grizzlies, Greivis Vasquez, Venezuela, Hugo Chavez 

Venezuelan coach Eric Mussleman hinted NBA Greivis Vasquez as well as center Gregory Echenique will have lots of playing time. El Universal

Memphis Grizzlies, Greivis Vasquez, Venezuela 

Sam Amico: Ex-NBA coach Eric Musselman opts against surgery on torn Achilles as docs told him it would mean no flying due to blood-clot risks. Twitter

Coaching, Eric Musselman, Venezuela 

Sam Amico: Musselman was already planning to coach Venezuelan national team, so he's just gonna put foot in cast. That's what I call Love Of The Game. Twitter

Coaching, Eric Musselman, Venezuela 

When Venezuela made Eric Musselman their national team coach last month, they opted for a man who has lived and breathed basketball for his entire life. Musselman ate, drank and slept basketball because of his father, former NBA boss Bill Musselman. "When most kids were watching cartoons when they woke up in the morning, at my breakfast table I was watching a game-tape with Dad," Musselman said to FIBA.com. "When I was done with school, my mom used to drop me off at Dad's practices and I used to sit there and watch until they were done. FIBA.com

Coaching, Eric Musselman, Venezuela 

"Then my dad and I would go into his office and watch film and sometimes, we wouldn't come home until 10 or 11 o'clock at night. "Then I would go to bed, get up the next morning and go to school and do the same thing. "I feel lucky to have had a dad who had such a great work ethic and cared about the coaching profession so much." FIBA.com

Coaching, Eric Musselman, Venezuela 

Memphis Grizzlies guard Greivis Vasquez has taken to the court to give pointers to Venezuelan children as part of a U.S. State Department program aimed at building ties through sports. The Venezuelan player teamed up with former NBA player Darvin Ham and former WNBA Player Kayte Christensen to hold a basketball clinic for children in Caracas. Vasquez said on Friday that the purpose is for children to be motivated and that his message is that "with effort, discipline and sacrifice, all goals are possible." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Greivis Vasquez, Venezuela 

American coach Eric Musselman on Wednesday was unveiled as the new head coach of Venezuela's men's national team that will look to qualify for the London Olympics at this summer's FIBA Americas Championship. Musselman, a former NBA head coach with the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors, takes over the position previously held by Nestor Salazar and will lead the team at the FIBA Americas Championship to be played in Mar del Plata, Argentina, between 30 August and 11 September. "I will work hard to achieve the objectives set out for Mar del Plata," said the 46-year-old of the Venezuelan Basketball Federation's (FVB) hopes to qualify for the 2012 Games or the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. "I will count on a talented selection, a group of energetic players that will work effectively." FIBA.com

Coaching, Eric Musselman, Venezuela 

Vasquez, a Venezuelan citizen, is teaming with former NBA player Darvin Ham and former WNBA player Kayte Christensen to hold basketball clinics for kids and meet with local sports officials. "We want to help young kids understand life is more than basketball. It's more than sports," Vasquez said in a telephone interview from Venezuela on Wednesday. "I want kids to understand that with hard work, everything is possible." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Greivis Vasquez, Venezuela 

He said he had approached the U.S. Embassy in Caracas when renewing his visa about doing some work for the community. Vasquez declined to comment on whether the trip could help relations between the two nations. "I'm an athlete. I don't have any connection with the politics at all," Vasquez said. "It's a good sport to unite people. ... The political side I can't control." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Greivis Vasquez, Venezuela 

Three current and former basketball players will be in Venezuela this week, part of a State Department "sports diplomacy" effort at a time of icy relations between the two countries. The State Department will announce that Memphis Grizzlies guard Greivis Vasquez and others are participating in the people-to-people exchange starting this Thursday. The Associated Press obtained details of the trip ahead of its official announcement. Vasquez, along with former NBA player Darvin Ham and former WNBA player Kayte Christensen, will hold basketball clinics for kids and meet with local sports officials. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Greivis Vasquez, Venezuela 

Marc J. Spears: Eric Musselman slated to be named head basketball coach of the Venezuelan national team tomorrow. Twitter

Coaching, Eric Musselman, Venezuela