Verizon Comcert Phoenix

First Cup: Monday

Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: "Kendrick Perkins was arrested early Saturday morning. The sight of the Thunder center's name splattered throughout a police report is all the evidence we need to know there is a problem. Still, the more troubling tidbit that came out of Southeast Texas was Perkins reportedly collapsing Thursday night. According to reports, Perkins was at a house party and suffered a seizure. He collapsed and fell on the concrete. Local authorities were called. Perkins was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released. A spokesman for Oklahoma City's scowling enforcer said he was dehydrated. Who knows if that's the real story? It all seems sketchy. The whole ordeal, however, has dealt Oklahoma City a harsh reminder of one thing. This NBA lockout isn't good for anybody. Not the fans. Not the arena employees. Not the league, its owners or their television partners. But above all, this lockout, which is now in Day 46, is increasingly endangering the players and leaving the teams for which they play powerless to help. That's quickly becoming the most worrisome side effect to this labor dispute." Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman: "Clearly, Perkins' altar boy status was gone long ago, but that's because of his on-court persona. He has never been a guy who's had run-ins with the law or gotten his name on the police blotter. His bad-boy image has been all about his style of play, and frankly, the Thunder is OK with that. This is a team that needs the grittiness and the nasty that Perkins brings to the court. He can be a hothead. But a knucklehead? There has never been a time when Perk seemed like a goober. Truth be told, he's one of the more thoughtful, intelligent interviews on the team. He sees situations for what they are, then he tells it like it is. I'm going to follow his lead. Perk acted like a bonehead this weekend. The Thunder expect better from him. Ditto for Oklahoma City.

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network Now Available To Half Of US ...

With the addition of 15 new 4G LTE markets and expansion of the network in 10 cities, Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network is now available to more than half of the U.S. population. According to Verizon Wireless, customers using the company's 4G LTE network should enjoy average data rates of 5 to 12 Mbps on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. 

Today marks the day where Verizon Wireless will turn on the new markets and expand the existing markets to offer 4G LTE coverage to more than 160 million Americans. If you're counting, Verizon Wireless now offers 4G LTE service in 117 cities. The full list of 4G coverage areas is available below.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless is turning on the world’s most advanced wireless network in 15 additional cities and expanding its network in 10 cities on Aug. 18, bringing the blazingly fast speed of 4G LTE to more than 160 million Americans – more than half the U.S. population – in fewer than eight months.  Consumers and businesses can choose from an array of 4G LTE-enabled smartphones, tablets, notebooks and netbooks, and hotspots to connect to the fastest 4G LTE network in the country, now available in 117 cities.   

On Thursday, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will be available in Tucson, Ariz.; Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, Ark.; Bakersfield and Salinas/Monterey/Seaside, Calif.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Frederick, Md.; Worcester, Mass.; Omaha, Neb./Council Bluffs, Iowa; Albany, Ithaca and Syracuse, N.Y.; Altoona and Johnstown, Pa.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Provo, Utah.  The company is also expanding its 4G LTE network on Thursday in Washington, D.C.; Tampa, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Baltimore, Md.; Boston, Mass.; Lansing, Mich.; New York, N.Y.; Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; and Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah.

“In eight short months we’ve introduced our 4G LTE network to more than half of the U.S. population, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless.  “This matters to millions of Americans because they can take advantage of faster 4G LTE speeds both at home and when they travel throughout the country – today and in many more markets to come this year.  Each new market and expansion is significant as it brings us closer to delivering on the promise to bring our 4G LTE network to more than 185 million Americans by the end of 2011.