NBA star forward Gasol vows to stay with Lakers

     MADRID, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Spanish forward Pau Gasol, who has been linked to a move to the Minnesota Timberwolves, said Monday he wants to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers for "as many years as I can".

    The Timberwolves have reportedly been pursuing Gasol to pair with Barcelona guard Ricky Rubio, who will play for the NBA side next season.

    "My desire is to stay with the Lakers. I don't have control over it but I want to stay with the Lakers for as many years as I can to be able to remain eligible¹ for the maximum possible championships," Gasol told Spain's local reporters.

    The reports linking Gasol to a move to the Tiberwolves came after the Dallas Mavericks² swept the Lakers 4-0 in the conference semifinals of the NBA playoffs.

    The Lakers signed Gasol, 30, in February 2008 from the Memphis Grizzlies³. The following year they extended his contract through the 2013-14 season.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

2 mavericks   

未烙印的牲畜( maverick的名词复数 )； 标新立异的人，不合常规的人

参考例句：

• And what about the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki? 那达拉斯小牛队和诺维斯基呢？
• And we see it with bringing Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks. 而且我们看到它同实现基德向达拉斯小牛队。

3 grizzlies   

北美洲灰熊( grizzly的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Suns beat the Memphis Grizzlies 127-113 earlier Tuesday night. 在周二晚上早些时候，太阳以127：113击败孟菲斯灰熊。
• Whatever you do, do not blink.They're like grizzlies. 无论你做什么，别眨眼。他们跟熊有点相象。