It was a close first playoff game, but after going into a nail-biting overtime, the Miami Heat pulled through and came out on with top at the very last minute in a victory over the Indiana Pacers, all thanks to that LeBron James guy, who finished with an impressive 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

WATCH LEBRON MAKE HIS GAME-WINNING SHOT HERE:

Tonight’s game marked Bron-Bron’s ninth postseason triple-double, but no one really cared about that. The only thing that mattered was whether or not King James would live up to his name and sink that final shot. And HE DID!

Roy Hibbert form the Indiana Pacers couldn’t do anything but shake his damn head…

The final score was 103-102.

As reported by the Associated Press:

Paul George made three free throws with 2.2 seconds left in the overtime, which he forced with a miracle 3-pointer, to give the Pacers the lead. But James — with Indiana shot-blocking center Roy Hibbert curiously on the bench — just drove down the left side of the lane, scored with ease and the Heat escaped.

Officials reviewed James’ play at the end, though it was clear he beat the clock, and the Pacers walked slowly toward their locker room, lamenting one that got away — by no fault of George’s.

George was fouled by Dwyane Wade on the play where the Pacers had to think they had stolen the series opener.

George saved the Pacers in regulation with a 32-footer with 0.7 seconds left in regulation that tied the game, and tried a shot from a similar distance as time was expiring in the extra session.

Referee Jason Phillips said Wade hit George, and the Pacers’ star made all three free throws for the 16th lead change of the night.

The final lead change came moments later, and Miami survived a game that had 18 ties and neither team ever leading by more than seven points.

Wade scored 19 points, Chris Bosh had 17 and Chris Andersen had 16 on 7-for-7 shooting for Miami.

George scored 27 for the Pacers, who got 26 from David West and 19 from Hibbert. The Pacers have won only two series in franchise history after dropping a Game 1.

Game 2 goes down Friday night in Miami.

NBA player Nick Young has been accused in a lawsuit of drugging and raping a woman following an encounter two years ago at a Hollywood bar, but the Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard says, it wasn’t me.

According to TMZ reports, a woman recently filed a lawsuit claiming that back in 2011, after she met Nick at Crown Bar in West Hollywood back in 2011, he slipped a date rape drug into her drink, then took her to his home where she alleges he “raped her vaginally and anally.”

It’s worth noting that the woman’s lawsuit is a civil one, and not criminal, and TMZ says shortly after the alleged incident, she went to the LAPD and they basically told her, “Ain’t nobody got time for dat.”

The gossip site is reporting that the LAPD told them that the woman’s story made absolutely no sense, and not only that, but while she was crying rape to the cops, she was already cooking up a lawsuit (apparently this one?), and that made them give her the side-eye even more.

And get this … the woman has also made financial demands on Nick, telling him to either “pay up or face a lawsuit.” And obviously he didn’t pay up, so here we are.

In response to the unwarranted media attention Young has no doubt been receiving, the basketball player took to his Instagram this week to deny the allegations, using a line from Tupac, along with a photo of the deceased rapper.

“Don’t believe everything you hear. Real Eyes. Realize. Real Lies.”

He later added:

“I was shocked with the amount of people who actually believed that Swaggy would do such a thing! I take my craft and my reputation seriously. I have a son that looks up to me as well as fans that are children. I would never want them to think of me in such a way. I learned that God has a way of showing things: Who my real friends are, who I can trust and who has my best interest. So to my family, friends, coaches, teammates and fans that supported me through this challenging time I want to say thank you for believing in me. Your support and prayer means the world to me. At this I want to say God is everything so keep yo faith, keep smiling and swagging on these haters.”

Nick has since deleted the messages, probably at the advice of his attorneys, since, you know, “legal stuff,” and considering the seriousness of the matter, he probably should have just waited until everything went through the courts before speaking publicly about it.

Regardless, Young seems pretty confident that the truth will indeed come out, and his name will officially be cleared. Folks lost their minds over Rick Ross alluding to date-raping a woman in a rap song, so you know Nick Young will be burned at the stake if this turned out to be true. Hopefully it’s not…but we’ll find out once it all plays out in court.

[H/T: Fansided]

Jessica Simpson used to get blamed every time her boyfriend Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo produced a fumble. LaLa has taken grief for distracting her husband Carmello Anthony. But Rihanna will not be blamed for New York Knicks player JR Smith‘s trouble on the court.

Rumors have been swirling about Rihanna and JR Smith since the two were photographed (above) at an event together. But Rihanna not only denies any romantic feelings toward JR, she condemns him as being “desert thirsty.”

Rihanna responded to a fan on Instagram after he jokingly said Rihanna was to blame for JR’s disappointing performance in this year’s NBA Playoffs. But RiRi fired back saying his problem far more to do with his lifestyle of clubbing than her.

Strange that she’s cite clubbing as a problem though … seeing as, that’s pretty much what her Instagram consists of.

Fuck you and your wack azz team!!! Nobody want that desert thirsty n-gga!! He fucked up because his ass be hungover from clubbing every night during playoffs!! So your issue isn’t with rasshole me.

Don’t try to put the failure of New York’s basketball program on RiRi’s shoulders. She’s got more than enough shit to worry about.

[Necole Bitchie]

With absolutely ZERO endorsements, undefeated championship boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is currently the highest paid athlete — across all American sports — for the second year in a row! Can you say … “BALLING?”

According to Sports Illustrated’s annual list highlight the top-paid U.S. athletes released Wednesday, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is protected to earn at least $90 million this year alone. Last year, he made $85 million and was crowned the highest paid athlete then too.

Mayweather Jr.’s 2013 earnings will come from a recent six-fight, 30-month deal he signed with Showtime back in February, in which the 36-year-old is guaranteed AT LEAST $32 million for every fight. It’s said to be one of the most lucrative deals EVER for an athlete.

Coming in a distant second on the list of top-paid athletes is Miami Heat star LeBron Jaames, who earned $56.5 million ($39 million of which came from endorsements).

Third on the list is New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees with $47.8 million earned, thanks to a new contract he signed before last season.

L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant comes in fourth on the list at just under $47 million, and Tiger Woods is fifth with $40.9 million — his lowest spot since the list was first started in 2004.

The full list includes 50 athletes — 25 baseball players, 13 basketball players and eight football players. For the fifth consecutive year, there are zero female athletes. The estimates of athletes’ earnings combines salary/winnings and endorsements.

Take a look at the complete Fortunate 50 list below:

[ESPN]

He’s never been considered the best soccer player in the world, but it’s safe to say that David Beckham has most certainly become the most recognizable player in the sport known as “football” in every part of the world except the U.S. and Canada. And now, following an illustrious 20-year career, David Beckham is retiring.

The 38-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder announced early Thursday (May 16) that he would be hanging up his soccer cleats for good after this season ends. He said in an official statement:

“I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level.

“I want to thank all my team-mates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from. I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed.

“If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over 100 times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy.

“I’m fortunate to have realized those dreams.”

Though he was never able to win the soccer equivalent of the Super Bowl, known as the World Cup, Beckham did win 10 league titles in his 20 seasons, which helped him cement his status in the game.

Beckham, who once played with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, is also credited for helping make the sport popular in the United States. He is described by FIFA President Sepp Blatter as “one of the most iconic figures in global football.”

Shortly after the news broke announcing his retirement, Beckham updated his Facebook page with a full statement that includes the paragraphs quoted above, as well as the following:

“To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country. I knew every time I wore the Three Lions shirt, I was not only following in a long line of great players, I was also representing every fan that cared passionately about their country. I’m honoured to represent England both on and off the pitch.

“I wouldn’t have achieved what I have done today without my family. I’m grateful for my parents’ sacrifice, which made me realise my dreams. I owe everything to Victoria and the kids, who have given me the inspiration and support to play at the highest level for such a long period. I also want to thank Simon Fuller and his team for their continued support.

“I want to thank all my team-mates, the great managers that I had the pleasure of learning from. I also want to thank the fans who have all supported me and given me the strength to succeed.

“Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love, however I feel like I’m starting a new adventure and I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead. I’m fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it’s my time to give back.”

Beckham’s last game will be on May 26th.

WATCH HIM DISCUSS HIS RETIREMENT IN AN INTERVIEW HERE:

NBA player Jason Collins is featured on the cover of an upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated magazine, where he makes not only the biggest announcement of his career, but possibly the biggest announcement to come out of the league, probably EVER:

I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.

That is exactly how Collins, a free agent in the league, opens the personal essay he wrote for Sports Illustrated, as he becomes the first American male athlete to come out of the closet while actively playing.

It will be interesting to see where his career goes from here, but this is most certainly an unprecedented event in American sports.

The essay appears in the May 6th 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated. Read it in its entirety below:

I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.

I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, “I’m different.” If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons.

I’ve played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you’re in the league, and I haven’t been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates’ teammates. Or one of your teammates’ teammates’ teammates.

Now I’m a free agent, literally and figuratively. I’ve reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.

Why am I coming out now? Well, I started thinking about this in 2011 during the NBA player lockout. I’m a creature of routine. When the regular season ends I immediately dedicate myself to getting game ready for the opener of the next campaign in the fall. But the lockout wreaked havoc on my habits and forced me to confront who I really am and what I really want. With the season delayed, I trained and worked out. But I lacked the distraction that basketball had always provided.

The first relative I came out to was my aunt Teri, a superior court judge in San Francisco. Her reaction surprised me. “I’ve known you were gay for years,” she said. From that moment on I was comfortable in my own skin. In her presence I ignored my censor button for the first time. She gave me support. The relief I felt was a sweet release. Imagine you’re in the oven, baking. Some of us know and accept our sexuality right away and some need more time to cook. I should know — I baked for 33 years.

When I was younger I dated women. I even got engaged. I thought I had to live a certain way. I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her. I kept telling myself the sky was red, but I always knew it was blue.

I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy, my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman, told me he had just marched in Boston’s 2012 Gay Pride Parade. I’m seldom jealous of others, but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn’t even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I’d been questioned, I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride. I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, “Me, too.”

***

The recent Boston Marathon bombing reinforced the notion that I shouldn’t wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect. Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully? When I told Joe a few weeks ago that I was gay, he was grateful that I trusted him. He asked me to join him in 2013. We’ll be marching on June 8.

No one wants to live in fear. I’ve always been scared of saying the wrong thing. I don’t sleep well. I never have. But each time I tell another person, I feel stronger and sleep a little more soundly. It takes an enormous amount of energy to guard such a big secret. I’ve endured years of misery and gone to enormous lengths to live a lie. I was certain that my world would fall apart if anyone knew. And yet when I acknowledged my sexuality I felt whole for the first time. I still had the same sense of humor, I still had the same mannerisms and my friends still had my back.

Believe it or not, my family has had bigger shocks. Strange as it seems today, my parents expected only one child in 1978. Me. When I came out (for the first time) the doctors congratulated my mother on her healthy, seven-pound, one-ounce baby boy. “Wait!” said a nurse. “Here comes another one!” The other one, who arrived eight minutes later and three ounces heavier, was Jarron. He’s followed me ever since, to Stanford and to the NBA, and as the ever-so-slightly older brother I’ve looked out for him.

I had a happy childhood in the suburbs of L.A. My parents instilled in us an appreciation of history, art and, most important, Motown. Jarron and I weren’t allowed to listen to rap until we were 12. After our birthday I dashed to Target and bought DJ Quik’s album Quik Is the Name. I memorized every line. It was around this time that I began noticing subtle differences between Jarron and me. Our twinness was no longer synchronized. I couldn’t identify with his attraction to girls.

I feel blessed that I recognized my own attractions. Though I resisted my impulses through high school, I knew that when I was ready I had someone to turn to: my uncle Mark in New York. I knew we could talk without judgment, and we did last summer. Uncle Mark is gay. He and his partner have been in a stable relationship forever. For a confused young boy, I can think of no better role model of love and compassion.

I didn’t come out to my brother until last summer. His reaction to my breakfast revelation was radically different from Aunt Teri’s. He was downright astounded. He never suspected. So much for twin telepathy. But by dinner that night, he was full of brotherly love. For the first time in our lives, he wanted to step in and protect me.

My maternal grandmother was apprehensive about my plans to come out. She grew up in rural Louisiana and witnessed the horrors of segregation. During the civil rights movement she saw great bravery play out amid the ugliest aspects of humanity. She worries that I am opening myself up to prejudice and hatred. I explained to her that in a way, my coming out is preemptive. I shouldn’t have to live under the threat of being outed. The announcement should be mine to make, not TMZ’s.

The hardest part of this is the realization that my entire family will be affected. But my relatives have told me repeatedly that as long as I’m happy, they’re there for me. I watch as my brother and friends from college start their own families. Changing diapers is a lot of work, but children bring so much joy. I’m crazy about my nieces and nephew, and I can’t wait to start a family of my own.

***

I’m from a close-knit family. My parents instilled Christian values in me. They taught Sunday school, and I enjoyed lending a hand. I take the teachings of Jesus seriously, particularly the ones that touch on tolerance and understanding. On family trips, my parents made a point to expose us to new things, religious and cultural. In Utah, we visited the Mormon Salt Lake Temple. In Atlanta, the house of Martin Luther King Jr. That early exposure to otherness made me the guy who accepts everyone unconditionally.

I’m learning to embrace the puzzle that is me. After I was traded by the Celtics to Washington in February, I took a detour to the Dr. King memorial. I was inspired and humbled. I celebrate being an African-American and the hardships of the past that still resonate today. But I don’t let my race define me any more than I want my sexual orientation to. I don’t want to be labeled, and I can’t let someone else’s label define me.

On the court I graciously accept one label sometimes bestowed on me: “the pro’s pro.” I got that handle because of my fearlessness and my commitment to my teammates. I take charges and I foul — that’s been my forte. In fact, during the 2004-05 season my 322 personals led the NBA. I enter the court knowing I have six hard fouls to give. I set picks with my 7-foot, 255-pound body to get guys like Jason Kidd, John Wall and Paul Pierce open. I sacrifice myself for other players. I look out for teammates as I would my kid brother.

I’m not afraid to take on any opponent. I love playing against the best. Though Shaquille O’Neal is a Hall of Famer, I never shirked from the challenge of trying to frustrate the heck out of him. (Note to Shaq: My flopping has nothing to do with being gay.) My mouthpiece is in, and my wrists are taped. Go ahead, take a swing — I’ll get up. I hate to say it, and I’m not proud of it, but I once fouled a player so hard that he had to leave the arena on a stretcher.

I go against the gay stereotype, which is why I think a lot of players will be shocked: That guy is gay? But I’ve always been an aggressive player, even in high school. Am I so physical to prove that being gay doesn’t make you soft? Who knows? That’s something for a psychologist to unravel. My motivations, like my contributions, don’t show up in box scores, and frankly I don’t care about stats. Winning is what counts. I want to be evaluated as a team player.

Loyalty to my team is the real reason I didn’t come out sooner. When I signed a free-agent contract with Boston last July, I decided to commit myself to the Celtics and not let my personal life become a distraction. When I was traded to the Wizards, the political significance of coming out sunk in. I was ready to open up to the press, but I had to wait until the season was over.

A college classmate tried to persuade me to come out then and there. But I couldn’t yet. My one small gesture of solidarity was to wear jersey number 98 with the Celtics and then the Wizards. The number has great significance to the gay community. One of the most notorious antigay hate crimes occurred in 1998. Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student, was kidnapped, tortured and lashed to a prairie fence. He died five days after he was finally found. That same year the Trevor Project was founded. This amazing organization provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention to kids struggling with their sexual identity. Trust me, I know that struggle. I’ve struggled with some insane logic. When I put on my jersey I was making a statement to myself, my family and my friends.

The strain of hiding my sexuality became almost unbearable in March, when the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments for and against same-sex marriage. Less then three miles from my apartment, nine jurists argued about my happiness and my future. Here was my chance to be heard, and I couldn’t say a thing. I didn’t want to answer questions and draw attention to myself. Not while I was still playing.

I’m glad I’m coming out in 2013 rather than 2003. The climate has shifted; public opinion has shifted. And yet we still have so much farther to go. Everyone is terrified of the unknown, but most of us don’t want to return to a time when minorities were openly discriminated against. I’m impressed with the straight pro athletes who have spoken up so far — Chris Kluwe, Brendon Ayanbadejo. The more people who speak out, the better, gay or straight. It starts with President Obama’s mentioning the 1969 Stonewall riots, which launched the gay rights movement, during his second inaugural address. And it extends to the grade-school teacher who encourages her students to accept the things that make us different.

***

By its nature, my double life has kept me from getting close to any of my teammates. Early in my career I worked hard at acting straight, but as I got more comfortable in my straight mask it required less effort. In recent days, though, little has separated “mask on, mask off.” Personally, I don’t like to dwell in someone else’s private life, and I hope players and coaches show me the same respect. When I’m with my team I’m all about working hard and winning games. A good teammate supports you no matter what.

I’ve been asked how other players will respond to my announcement. The simple answer is, I have no idea. I’m a pragmatist. I hope for the best, but plan for the worst. The biggest concern seems to be that gay players will behave unprofessionally in the locker room. Believe me, I’ve taken plenty of showers in 12 seasons. My behavior wasn’t an issue before, and it won’t be one now. My conduct won’t change. I still abide by the adage, “What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room.” I’m still a model of discretion.

As I write this, I haven’t come out to anyone in the NBA. I’m not privy to what other players say about me. Maybe Mike Miller, my old teammate in Memphis, will recall the time I dropped by his house in Florida and say, “I enjoyed being his teammate, and I sold him a dog.” I hope players swap stories like that. Maybe they’ll talk about my character and what kind of person I am.

As far as the reaction of fans, I don’t mind if they heckle me. I’ve been booed before. There have been times when I’ve wanted to boo myself. But a lot of ill feelings can be cured by winning.

I’m a veteran, and I’ve earned the right to be heard. I’ll lead by example and show that gay players are no different from straight ones. I’m not the loudest person in the room, but I’ll speak up when something isn’t right. And try to make everyone laugh.

I’ve never sought the spotlight. Though I’m coming out to the world, I intend to guard my privacy. I’m making this blanket statement in part to keep rumors and misunderstandings at bay. I hope fans will respect me for raising my hand. And I hope teammates will remember that I’ve never been an in-your-face kind of guy. All you need to know is that I’m single. I see no need to delve into specifics.

Look at what happened in the military when the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was repealed. Critics of the repeal were sure that out military members would devastate morale and destroy civilization. But a new study conducted by scholars from every branch of the armed forces except the Coast Guard concluded that “cohesion did not decline after the new policy of open service was put into place. In fact, greater openness and honesty resulting from repeal seem to have promoted increased understanding, respect and acceptance.”

The same goes for sports. Doc Rivers, my coach on the Celtics, says, “If you want to go quickly, go by yourself — if you want to go farther, go in a group.” I want people to pull together and push ahead.

Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start. It all comes down to education. I’ll sit down with any player who’s uneasy about my coming out. Being gay is not a choice. This is the tough road and at times the lonely road. Former players like Tim Hardaway, who said “I hate gay people” (and then became a supporter of gay rights), fuel homophobia. Tim is an adult. He’s entitled to his opinion. God bless America. Still, if I’m up against an intolerant player, I’ll set a pretty hard pick on him. And then move on.

The most you can do is stand up for what you believe in. I’m much happier since coming out to my friends and family. Being genuine and honest makes me happy.

I’m glad I can stop hiding and refocus on my 13th NBA season. I’ve been running through the Santa Monica Mountains in a 30-pound vest with Shadow, the German shepherd I got from Mike Miller. In the pros, the older you get, the better shape you must be in. Next season a few more eyeballs are likely to be on me. That only motivates me to work harder.

Some people insist they’ve never met a gay person. But Three Degrees of Jason Collins dictates that no NBA player can claim that anymore. Pro basketball is a family. And pretty much every family I know has a brother, sister or cousin who’s gay. In the brotherhood of the NBA, I just happen to be the one who’s out.

[Sports Illustrated]

Chicago Bulls fans have no doubt been missing their star player Derrick Rose do his thing on the court, as the NBA star has been recovering from a serious ACL injury since the 2012 playoffs. But one fan in particular has taken Rose’s injury and him missing the entire 2012 – 2013 NBA season (it isn’t known whether or not he will miss this year’s playoffs too) so seriously that he’s decided to sue the Bulls point guard.

HipHop365 reports that a 25-year-old Peoria, Ill. man named Matthew Thompson, who is a longtime Bulls fan, filed a lawsuit against Derrick Rose last Thursday, claiming that Rose’s lingering injury and extended absence from the team has led to Thompson having several mental breakdowns and suffering from emotional distress, which ultimately led to his current “obesity issues.”

So in other words, Derrick Rose missing this NBA season, and the fact that he will most likely miss this year’s playoffs, after already missing last year’s playoffs, has made Thompson a “fat, depressed, mess,” as Bleacher Report put it.

According to reports, Thompson claims in his lawsuit that Rose is displaying “negligent behavior” by refusing to return to the court, even though team doctors cleared him to play last month.

Despite Rose’s absence from the team, the Bulls managed to make it to the 2013 NBA Playoffs, though they are getting off to a rocky start. They played in New York against the Brooklyn Nets Saturday (Apr 20) and lost, 106 to 89. The Bulls will play again in New York against the Nets tonight at 8 p.m.

Matthew Thompson should be happy the team has at least made it to the playoffs, and him getting fat and being depressed certainly isn’t Derrick Rose’s problem.

It isn’t known whether or not Peoria County, Illinois will take his ridiculous lawsuit seriously, but they definitely shouldn’t.

If you needed further proof that America is the land where stupid people can capitalize on their stupidity … here it is.

On Friday, Ryan Lochte (the man who makes Kris Humphries look semi-intelligent) appeared on Fox News’ “Good Day Philadelphia” to speak with Sheinelle Jones and Mike Jerrick about his E! reality show “What Would Ryan Lochte Do?”

As expected, the Olympic swimmer had a problem stringing together sentences and was confused by simple questions.

“Is it bothering you, having the camera follow you around everywhere?” Jones asked.

“You know, I’m getting used to it,” Lochte replied. “The first couple days it was a little weird. I mean, I was brushing my teeth and the camera was there.”

“I thought the bathroom was off-limits!” Jones said.

“Well, I guess there’s like, uh, there’s like, uh, there’s like a mirror, with a sink,” Lochte said, “and then you’ve got the bathroom, so you’ve got to separate…”

After the interview, Jones and Jerrick laughed until she cried and we don’t blame her.

Watch the mess unfold below:

Moments like this remind us how true Seth MacFarlane’s “Saturday Night Live” interpretation of Lochte was.

Unfortunately for the Gold Medalist, his head-scratching stupidity had been poked fun of on numerous occasions prior to the skit.

In 2012, BuzzFeed compiled this lovely montage of the of some embarrassing interview statements the 28-year-old has made.

Ryan Lochte should probably just stop doing live interviews all together…

[H/T: Us Weekly, BuzzFeed, YouTube]

Jay-Z has announced that he is selling his minority stake in his ownership of the Brooklyn Nets so that he can spend the majority of his time focusing on his newest venture: Roc Nation Sports.

“Being a member of the Nets organization surpassed some of my greatest ambitions,” Jay-Z said in a statement (according to CNN). ”It was never about an investment; it was about the NETS and Brooklyn. My job as an owner is over but as a fan it has just begun. I’m a Brooklyn Net forever. It’s been an honor to work with Mikhail Prokhorov, Dmitry Razumov, Christophe Charlier, ONEXIM Sports and Entertainment, Brett Yormark and all the wonderful people involved in making the Nets first class. My sincerest thanks goes to Bruce Ratner, who first introduced the idea of moving the Nets to Brooklyn. A thank you and deepest appreciation goes to the fans. You are the lifeblood of any team.”

“The Nets have made their mark on the NBA and as they enter a new era, Roc Nation does as well; as we embark on Roc Nation Sports,” he continued. ”Our newest endeavor is committed to building the brands of professional athletes as we have done for some of today’s top music artists. For Roc Nation Sports to function at its full potential, NBA rules stipulate that I relinquish my ownership in the Brooklyn Nets. It was a tough decision but as I stated earlier, it’s not about ownership. Congratulations to The Nets on a great season and making the playoffs! I will always be a Brooklyn Net.”

Earlier this month, Jay-Z announced that he was forming a sports agency to manage professional athletes called Roc Nation Sports. The venture is a joint partnership with Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Roc Nation Sports signed Robinson Cano as their first client.

There’s so much ballyhooing going on in the media over athletes suppressing their sexuality instead of embracing it. But no one seemed to react much to No. 1 WNBA draft pick Brittney Griner’s official coming out party.

The New York Times ran a story outlining how most media outlets didn’t make a big deal out of the Baylor player’s coming out.

Well, for starters, lesbians running around playing basketball is hardly unprecedented in the WNBA. So a butch lesbian coming out while she’s in school is nice and all, but it’s hardly going to encourage a gay man to step out of the closet and claim his sports as his own.

That’s because in sports, most athletic women are already assumed to be gay if they dress overly Tom Boyish and act aggressively. A butch lesbian is compatible with professional sports, but a flamboyant gay male? That’s yet to be seen.

The aftermath of the former Baylor star Brittney Griner’s revelation in several interviews this week was muted, to say the least. Griner, who was chosen with the No. 1 pick in the W.N.B.A. draft Monday, did not treat the issue with any outward hesitation — in fact, she appeared to refer to her coming out in the past tense, as though it had happened before — giving a casual feeling to the entire episode.

It was an odd juxtaposition: as there is increased speculation about whether a male athlete — any male athlete — will come out while still playing a major professional team sport, one of the best female athletes in the history of team sports comes out, and the reaction is roughly equivalent to what one might see when a baseball manager reveals his starting rotation for a three-game series in July.

So yeah. Congrats to Griner on coming out and all, but she didn’t exactly have anywhere near the impact that a male pro athlete coming out would have.

NFL free agent Kerry Rhodes has probably received more press this month than he has over his entire career … and it has nothing to do about his skills on the football field.

Exactly one week ago from today, Rhodes was forced to release a statement via TMZ saying that he is “not gay,” after photos had surfaced the day before on MediaTakeOut.com showing the 30-year-old with his around around a “male friend.”

NFL Player Kerry Rhodes Denies Being Gay, Calls Questionable Pics “Casual”

In his statement, Rhodes explained that the pictures of him and his “friend” — who he claimed was his former assistant — were simply “casual” shots that were taken during a “past vacation” in which his “entire business team” was present.

But after Media Take Out somehow got a hold of ANOTHER set of damaging photos of Kerry and his so-called “male friend,” one of which shows him kissing the guy on the forehead, the speculation surrounding the NFL star and his sexuality grew even bigger.

More Intimate Photos of Kerry Rhodes and His Alleged Boyfriend Surface, Including One with a Kiss

And now that the other man in the photos, Kerry’s alleged former secret lover, has opted to go on something of a media tour recently — in which he is basically outing Rhodes as a closeted homosexual (aka “down low brother”) — it’s going to be nearly impossible for the NFL player to try and clear his name now.

In separate interviews with Bossip and Baller Alert, Russell “Hollywood” Simpson talked about how he met Kerry Rhodes, and revealed that they were dating while Kerry played for the Arizona Cardinals.

Russell said he wasn’t the one who leaked the photos of them together, but Kerry was definitely aware that they were being taken. Russell also made it a point to note that he is not a “jilted lover,” he’s just upset that Kerry tried to “play” him by going to TMZ and making that statement denying that he was gay.

Russell said that when MTO published the photos of them together, Kerry should have just kept quiet instead of “lying” and trying to prove to the world that he was straight.

Check out the excerpts from both interviews (and EVEN MORE PHOTOS of the two back when they were “together”) below.

How Kerry Rhodes and Hollywood Met

From Bossip:

“I met him at an NFL training camp. A friend of mine was up there trying to get hired as a player’s assistant and I kinda tagged along. I don’t wanna be anyone’s assistant and I basically helped my friend get to Arizona (Cardinals) to get a job. We went up the hotel suite and Kerry was up there. We talked and that was about it. I later went back to North Carolina and he called me wanting me to come back to Arizona to help manage his assistants and personal team. We started dating about 2 months after and then got in a relationship.”

From Baller Alert:

“I got to know Kerry and we became very close. I moved in with Kerry at his home in Arizona. At first we were just friends and we were getting to know each other. Then we got into a relationship. We were in a relationship for a whole year. I was there, people knew who I was, they saw me as his top assistant. I handled everything for him. No one went to Kerry for anything.”

On Who Initiated the Relationship

From Baller Alert:

“Of course he came on to me. I’m too fabulous to come on to anybody. That’s not what I do. I have a lot of men that come on to me. I don’t come on to men because I don’t know what time it is for you. I would never come on to a man. Honestly, a lot of gay guys are like me. A lot of gay guys don’t come on to guys. It’s always the other way around. It’s always the manly ones. Of course I wouldn’t come on to anybody. Yes, I thought he was attractive but I thought he liked girls.”

“It did not take place instantly. I’m a classy b*tch. You have to show me what time it is and he did. I was with it. It took us almost two months to sleep together. He made the first move — as in kissing. Kerry says I was his first man he’s been with. Doesn’t matter, it still makes you gay.”

More on their “relationship,” sex life, and the “benefits”

Bossip: What were your duties as Kerry’s boyfriend? Did his teammates know about you?

Russell: I was like his wife. I ran the household and took care of all his personal needs. If anyone needed anything from Kerry they came to me! That’s what Kerry loved about me. i didn’t take no sh*t from nobody. Kerry is kinda a dumb athlete, like a dumb jock. So, I took care of things that he didn’t understand. And yes, his teammates did know about me. It was kinda unspoken but I was at all his training camps and events. The other wives knew and loved me too. I was always there. It was no secret!

Bossip: How was your sex life with Kerry? Was he top or power bottom?

*laughs* It was great! It was very passionate because we were so in love. Of course he was the top! I’m not doing all that damn work! But, we were extremely close. It was very good and he put it on me!

Bossip: How long were you and Kerry together?

Russell: Well, I was the first gay man Kerry was with publicly. You can look at the photos and see were clearly together. We were together for about a year and two months. We were together for a while and in love.

Bossip: Did you benefit because of this relationship? What gifts did Kerry buy you any special gifts?

Kerry paid for everything. We had a very good life together. I always got any and everything I ever asked for. Vacations, red bottoms, the private jet in my video was us going to training camp together. I had a driver and he even gave me his Aston Martin. He later bought me my own car and because I’m not a dumb bi**h I made sure to get it my own name and he paid the whole thing off! He treated me very well. I will never talk bad about him in that way because he was really good to me.

From Baller Alert:

“We went on a lot of trips, out of the country, Hawaii, whatever. He loved me so much that he did spend a lot of money. He definitely took care of me.”

“Kerry did do a lot for me. He bought me a lot of things. He bought me the new Infiniti truck. I’m the type of person, if you buy me something, you’re putting it in MY name. If you’re buying me something you’re paying it off. He definitely did the TWO things. You’re not going to buy me nothing and it still be in your name because then it’s your car. You’re not going to buy me nothing and leave me with the payments. I don’t think so!”

On the photos leaking and Kerry talking to TMZ

From Baller Alert:

“They said ‘Well maybe he he loved him like a little brother. Listen, if he loved me like a little brother, he f**ked me like a wife!” and that’s just me being real with you. People knew something was up but they didn’t know. It was just not normal for a guy to be like we were. You can see in the picture. A picture says a lot of things. You could see in the pictures that it was something there.

“The first set of pictures, I don’t know how they got out because I did not put them out. If you go on my Facebook page you will see the same pictures but I always crop him out because it was nobody’s business. Now what pissed me off about the whole situation is when he and I stopped talking and the pics got out. He said that he was NOT gay. To me he shouldn’t have said sh**. If you’re not going to tell the truth, don’t try to make me look stupid.

“This is what I say: You can play Nintendo, You play XBox, You play lottery, You Don’t Play Hollywood! I think he made a comment that he’s as straight as an arm. An arm has an elbow dummy! What really set me off is when he had Alton the assistant call TMZ, say he was Me and say Kerry and I are just friends, he’s like my brother.”

On other gay players in sports, and how Kerry reached out to him after the pictures leaked

From Baller Alert:

“I just want girls to know my sh** is for real! This sh** happened! You can think that you got a boyfriend and all that sh** but THIS sh** is for real! It happened. I think that a lot of girls are lost because they play football. That don’t mean nothing. You’d be better getting yourself a boy cheerleader.”

“This is how I work. I don’t date boys with girlfriends and I don’t date men with kids. I’m selfish. I’m not the type to go with the downlow brothers. Either you’re down with me or you ain’t. Kerry was NOT messing with girls when he was with me. He was with me every single day, all day long. I have pictures. I have text messages.”

“You can sit around and think your boyfriend ain’t doing nothing. He probably ain’t doing nothing with another girl because he’s probably with a boy.”

Bossip: Did you ever encounter any other gay football players?

Russell: Well, I don’t know. All of his teammates in Arizona (Cardinals) know about me. But you would see guys with a lot of male assistants who always surrounded themselves with men but it wasn’t openly discussed. So I don’t know if they were gay but you know…

Bossip: How did you feel when Kerry denied being gay? Did he reach out to you?

Yes he actually text me like “Hey baby, can you just not say anything about all this” but that’s what I don’t like. He’s lying because he’s trying to protect his free agency. He’s not going to be one of those guys who come out in the league because he cares too much about that. But why is he lying?? LOOK AT THE PICS!! He loved me and now he’s lying. That’s why I put him out there because he came for me. I’m not here for fame. He wanted me to have a reality show because he said I was destined for it. His teammates said I had a great personality and encouraged me to be on TV. This was our life! This was real!

I had an engagement ring he gave me. Look at some of the pics and I am wearing a promise ring he gave me. We were in love and it was real. But now look at him! He’s lying and looking like a real dumbazz. Why couldn’t he just STFU and no even said anything. He had to deny it like I wasn’t real. Like, I never existed. What the hell?? We filmed that reality show together, he has hours of footage of me and him together for the show. I have NOTHING to hide! I’m grown as hell and have nothing lie about.

Kerry Rhodes is gay. That’s the truth.

And there you have it. The ball is in your court now, Mr. Rhodes. Or, rather, in his case, “the ball is in your field.” Or, whatever.

Regardless, Kerry Rhodes has some serious explaining to do.

What do you think? Should Kerry Rhodes just go on ahead and come out of the closet now? Or … ?

Some of the wives of the Miami Heat threw fellow basketball wife Savannah Brinson — the soon-to-be wife of NBA star LeBron James — a surprise bachelorette party last weekend.

Some of Savannaha’s closet friends — including Chris Paul’s wife Jada — were in attendance, which made the surprise gathering even more memorable for her.

The purple and white themed event was put together by Juwan Howard’s wife Jenine, and the festivities included spa-treatments, and sushi served on half naked men. Not sure if LeBron was thrilled to find out about that last one, but Savannah seemed to have a great time nonetheless.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS HERE:

Savannah expressed her gratitude on Twitter (via Instagram) about her surprise party:

So surprised that all my nearest and dearest came to celebrate me tonight. Special thanks to @j9_howard for thee best lingerie party ever!! Love you to pieces! And S/O to all my heat ladies who celebrated with me!! You know who you are! Muah! Xoxo

We’re thrilled to hear Savannah and LeBron are getting ready to tie the knot (reportedly this September). Not only is Savannah a down to earth, naturally beautiful girl, but they’ve been together since high school, and she’s been there with him every step of the way.

Congrats to the Mr. and Mrs. Lebron James to be!

[H/T: Necole Bitchie]

When MediaTakeOut published questionable photos of NFL player Kerry Rhodes with his former assistant, Rhodes alleged that the photos were simply “casual.” But that might not work with this new batch.

The gossip site has gotten its hands on a new set of photos that show Rhodes and his former assistant, who’s apparently an out gay man named Hollywood, snuggling close as they walk on the beach arm in arm.

But the most damning photo evidence of all is the shot of Rhodes pulling Hollywood in close as he appears to kiss his forehead.

Look, it’s 2013 and it’s okay for straight men to bond and show affection, but a kiss on the forehead is what you do with your sweetheart, not your bro.

At this point, a confession from Rhodes seems inevitable. There’s really just no explaining away the obvious romance and affection on display in these photos.

Really, in the age of ‘Glee’ and Lady Gaga, we can handle a gay football player. So there’s really no benefit to Rhodes hiding his true sexuality.

Frankly, a gay football player is a lot less scandalous than that ratchet shit Tiger Woods pulled when he racked up 30 mistresses and set his career in flames for a few years.

Coming out of the dark. It’s not just a Gloria Estefan song, it’s also what NFL player Kerry Rhodes might want to do now that questionable pictures of he and his former assistant have surfaced.

Kerry Rhodes found himself unexpectedly in the middle of a big, ugly gay scandal when Media Takeout got its hands on some intimate photos of Rhodes on vacation with his former assistant. In one photo, Rhodes is shirtless and carrying the man damsel in distress style.

In another photo, Rhodes has his arm wrapped around the man’s shoulder almost in a “that’s my baby” pose. Suffice it to say, they both look very happy in the photos together.

Rhodes, who is currently a free agent but played for the Arizona Cardinals last year, denied to TMZ that he is in fact gay. In his explanation, the cozy pictures between him and his friend were just…”casual.” Right. Is this fool trying to redefine the word casual the same way Lindsay tried to redefine the word “exhaustion”?

But Rhodes says he’s as straight as an arrow — telling TMZ, “Photos have been circulating of my former assistant and I that have caused some rumors regarding my sexuality, and I wanted to address the situation.”

Rhodes then says flatly, “I am not gay.”

Rhodes explains: “The shots were taken during a past vacation in a casual environment with my entire business team.”

Can former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey give Mr. Rhodes a call and give him some advice? He knows what it’s like to be outted publicly. Maybe he can help this man see the light.

Cause there ain’t no way those Brokeback Mountain-type photos are strictly platonic.

Hip Hop Mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is officially a sports agent, signing his first client, Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees.

In 2008, Jay-Z founded “Roc Nation,” the entertainment company, and he is now launching Roc Nation Sports, a full-service sports management company which will partner with another agency, “Creative Artists,” to represent Cano.

Cano, who was once signed to agent Scott Boras, became a free agent at the end of this baseball season, which makes him eligible to sign with any team.

“At this point in my career, I am ready to take a more active role in my endeavors both on and off the field,” Cano said in a statement. “I am confident that the pairing of Roc Nation Sports & CAA Sports will be essential in helping me accomplish my short- & long-term goals.”

His expected nine-figure contract will not only be a great deal for Cano but will also be a great deal for his new agency Roc Nation Sports.

Roc Nation has encompassed the music industry, managing artists, songwriters, producers and engineers.

It also deals with publishing, touring and merchandising, and it is meant to replace the now defunct music label, Roc-A-Fella Records, which was founded by Jay-Z and his former business partner Damon “Dame” Dash.

“Because of my love of sports, it was a natural progression to form a company where we can help top athletes in various sports the same way we have been helping artists in the music industry for years,” Jay-Z said in a statement.

It’s said that Victor Cruz, who just so happens to be good friends with Jay-Z, will be the next athlete to sign with Roc Nation Sports.

Life ain’t nothing but a box of chocolates. You never know which piece you bit into is going to be sweet.

And looking at Magic Johnson’s son EJ — a towering 6-foot-something with a penchant for Dunkin’ Donuts — you’d never guess that inside he’s a fiery diva with a flame so bright it could put Derek J and Miss Lawrence of Housewives fame to shame.

While EJ’s being gay has apparently not been much of a secret in L.A., according to sports gossip blog Jocks and Stiletto Jill, it’s now front-page news thanks to TMZ capturing the statuesque divo on the stroll with his boo thang.

As the one and only Funky Dineva would say, “Catch these teas, honey!”

Watch EJ on TMZ’s cameras here:

According to TMZ, Magic and his wife Cookie, wholeheartedly support their son and his gay lifestyle. “Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way.” Magic said, “We’re very proud of him.”

Holler! Two snaps for modern black parents embracing their children no matter what.

In the age of Glee and Fashion Queens, ain’t nobody got time for homophobia. Live and let live. Let your freak flag fly, EJ.

Bravo, when y’all gonna give this star-in-the-making his own reality show? Matter of fact, Miss Kenya Moore needs to book EJ for a remix of her “Gone with the Wind Fabulous” single. I bet EJ’s twirl is meaner than Superstorm Sandy.

After a brief hiatus, the Anthonys are back together and plan to live large.

Quoting an anonymous source, the NY Post is reporting that Carmelo Anthony and his wife Lala have kissed and made up, and are moving into an exclusive apartment together in the Fifth Avenue “Museum Mile” area of New York City.

According to the Post‘s sources, the duo just signed a $20,000 lease on the 4,022 square foot pad, which features five bedrooms and four bathrooms, 10 foot ceilings and spectacular views of Central Park. Sources say the pad is owned by Bank of America exec Fares Noujaim, who bought it for $6.08 million.

“The couple are in the process of moving in now,” a source said. “Although they were going through a rough patch, they have worked things out and have fully reconciled.”

Fightin’ Words: Kevin Garnett Whispers to Carmelo Anthony that His Wife LaLa Tastes Like Honey Nut Cheerios?

Back in January it was reported that the couple were living on separate coasts after NY Knicks star Melo, and the Celtics’ own Kevin Garnett had a pretty disrespectful exchange of words while on the court in in the middle of a game — mostly from Garnett, who allegedly whispered into Melo’s ear that his wife “tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios.”

No one ever really confirmed whether or not Garnett actually said that (or if Lala really does taste like Honey Nut Cheerios) … but now that Carmelo and Lala have put that schoolyard drama behind them, it looks like they are now able to live comfortably on the same coast, right in the heart of NYC.

Glad to hear that Melo and LaLa are back together!

Michael Jordan is getting ready to walk down the aisle again, so to prepare, Jordan and his fiance Yvette Prieto visited a West Palm Beach, FL courthouse yesterday to apply for a marriage license.

Per Florida law the two must wait 60 days before they can wed. The two are reportedly set to tie the knot April 27th, according to TMZ.

This will be the first marriage for Prieto and the second for Jordan. Jordan was previously married to Juanita Vanoy for 17 years before they divorced in 2006. The ex-couple have three sons together.

Jordan and Prieto dated for three years before he proposed over Christmas of 2011.

Wonder if Jordan’s so-called “love child” will be invited to the nuptials…

Robert Swift was the man years ago when he was acquired by the Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) straight out of high school … but now, it looks like things aren’t going so well for Swift, who was found last month squatting in his former home in Sammamish, Washington — outside Seattle.

Apparently, the home had been foreclosed on as of last summer, and Swift refused to vacate the premises until last weekend.

Eric Dalzell and his wife Jessica Ko bought Swift’s home a few months ago, and couldn’t move in until he moved out, but when he finally did … they were shocked when they recently entered the home and saw just how disgusting the house was.

The entire deck behind the property was covered in dog feces, the kitchen was littered with empty takeout boxes and bottles of liquor, and the basement had been turned into a makeshift shooting range, and was riddled with bullet holes.

The walls in the home had huge gaping holes — most likely from someone punching them or hitting them with heavy objects — and an unpleasant odor reeked throughout the 6,240 square foot house. The bathrooms looked like they hadn’t been touched in months.

“The first thing you get when you walk in the door is the kind of whiff of whatever is festering in here,” Jessica Ko told KOMO.

The outside wasn’t any better either. There, empty Budweiser, Four Loko and Coors cans were strewn about, and several cars parked in the yard looked like they hadn’t been moved in some time.

A sad story overall, and believe it or not, it gets even sadder from there. Swift apparently left all of his personal possessions behind, even the things that must have been important to him at some point.

The home’s new owners found signed memorabilia, framed pictures, and a box of old letters and scholarship offers that were addressed to Swift from big universities like UCLA, Kentucky and Kansas from when he was in high school and being scouted by colleges.

Swift purchased the large four bedroom, four and a half bathroom house for $1.35 million in 2006, but the new owners purchased it earlier this year for just half that amount. It will take a few months before the home is move-in ready.

Before he fell on hard times, Swift played basketball in Seattle with the Super Sonics when he was drafted in 2004 before the team moved to Oklahoma as the Thunder, where he played until 2009.

After Swift was dropped from the Thunder, he was offered a D-League assignment, which he refused, then he played in Japan for a little while. The 27-year-old made over $10 million during his basketball career.

Since he left the home, Swift’s whereabouts are currently unknown, but those who are close to him are worried for his mental well-being after months of living in squalid conditions.

LOOK BELOW FOR MORE PHOTOS OF ROBERTS SWIFT’S FORMER HOME AT ITS WORST:

Photos: Daily Mail

A high school football coach from California died in a freak accident Monday night (Mar 4). The Sacramento Bee reports that Marion Adams — who coached football and track at Rio Linda High School — was riding his bike home from track practice Monday night night when he accidentally ran into a parking garage gate, which impaled him.

According to the Bee, as Adams was riding his bike, he temporarily looked over his shoulder to say goodbye to a student, and didn’t notice the partially open metal swing gate in the school’s parking lot. “At his rate of speed, Adams was impaled by the gate arm,” the paper reported.

Adams was rushed to the hospital, where he initially survived two surgeries to treat internal injuries, but the doctors couldn’t stop him from bleeding, and he was pronounced dead Tuesday.

Mike Morris, the athletic director at the school said, “Marion was the most popular and nicest man on campus; just a great guy … It’s a huge loss, devastating to our community. He’s an example of how great Rio Linda is as a school and community. He couldn’t wait to come back here. This place meant everything to him.”

Marion Adams graduated from Rio Linda High School in 1972 and his brother says he recently left a high-paying job to return to his Alma Mater to take up a coaching job there.

“Marion loved kids, loved seeing them do well,” said David Adams. “He absolutely loved Rio Linda. He gave up a job that paid really well to teach and coach at his favorite school.”

David Adams said he was “impressed” at the outpour of support he saw from the school’s faculty, staff, students and parents, who all filled the hospital’s waiting room and even stayed there with the coach until he passed away.

“I was so impressed, so touched by the outpouring of support,” he said. “So many people hung out for the night in the hospital. I knew what kind of man he was – he’s my brother – but to see all that love and support really moved us. We’re all feeling this.”

Marion Adams is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter, two grandchildren, his mother and seven siblings.

“Still in shock,” said Adams’ longtime friend Terry Ray, who coaches boys basketball at the school. “I know people say this a lot about people, that they’re great when we lose them, but Marion Adams was a wonderful man and teacher.”

WATCH A VIDEO REPORT ABOUT THE INCIDENT HERE:

With a headline like that, I could really take this a thousand different places. You nervous? Don’t be.

Dennis Rodman is back in the headlines, and this time, it isn’t for a marriage, divorce, or even for wearing a wedding dress –  but the former basketball phenom IS in the news for a new relationship he’s formed with none other than North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Now before you check out on me, because this is the part where that’d be easy, hang with me.

If you hadn’t heard, to make a long story short, Dennis Rodman just got back to the States after traveling abroad to hang out with the dictator of North Korea. At first, I thought this was about as profound as Kim Kardashian meeting Ahmadinejad. But then after a little more thought, I realized: this is kind of epic, kind of annoying, and then kind of epic all over again.

KIND OF EPIC:

It’s kind of epic on a number of levels. How did Dennis Rodman and Kim Jong Un become besties in the first place?

North Korea is notoriously insulated. North Koreans aren’t tweeting from their iPhones, updating their statuses and tagging Facebook photos on their iPads, and probably didn’t really catch on to the South Korean-native Psy’s Gangam Style craze.

It’s not likely Lil Kim (nickname for Kim Jong Un, after rising to power when his father Kim Jong Il passed away in 2011) was following Dennis on Twitter, Dennis followed back and they started DM-ing.

It’s also rather unlikely that the pierced and tatted Rodman just stumbled upon KJU and they just clicked. KJU reportedly speaks broken-English and I doubt they sat next to each other on a flight.

Some people believe Rodman was paid to make the trip, seemingly to cause a media frenzy… like… it… has… and to bring more attention to North Korea.

You may remember it was barely a month ago the country made headlines when they reportedly tested a nuclear weapon that was aimed toward the United States. The United States has (seemingly) had very little success getting some of the most official communications into North Korea, and then comes Dennis Rodman.

It’s epic simply because they were in contact.

KIND OF ANNOYING:

Of all the celebrities to invite to North Korea and spark headlines, conversations, and cause me to have to message my dad at late hours to get his opinion, why Dennis Rodman? There are a host of other people that are basketball players, and washed-up former stars of not only Celebrity Apprentice, but also Celebrity Rehab.

The choosing of Dennis Rodman leads me to believe that this stunt was just that, a publicity stunt. It’s not really a secret that reports of Rodman’s financial woes are abundant. He’s also supposedly in exceedingly poor health. The scent of this story to me reeks of “cut me a check and I’ll put on a show.”

It’s annoying because it causes us to have to discuss, and look at, Dennis Rodman yet again.

KIND OF EPIC ALL OVER AGAIN:

Finally, it’s kind of epic all over again because I’m reminded of Senator Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential debates.

When questioned about whether or not he’d be willing to take meetings and converse with our enemies, he caught a lot of flack and was called naive for saying he would, from just about everyone, the right, the left, and even Hillary Clinton.

It was ground-breaking at the time because, at that time, our current president had us in two wars, and always seemed like he had his cowboy boots on and his gun on his holster ready for the next fight. This was a radically different perspective for a prospective new White House tenant.

But this week, the Obama administration has made indication that it will not be taking Rodman’s only real coherent piece of advice from his trip, to “call him” … ‘him,’ being Kim Jong Un.

When Rodman was interviewed on Sunday morning political chat show This Week with George Stephanopolous, he said that KJU wanted Obama to just “call him,” citing that he did “not want to do war.”

Now honestly, if there’s anything that Dennis Rodman said in his interview that helped him, it was discussing the less-than-olive-branch-extending request. While it seems this would be in line with President Obama’s views on taking calls from anyone, today it seems that policy has been suspended.

You won’t find many bigger fans of our great Commander-in-Chief than you will in me, but it does beg the question: “Why not just ‘call him,’ Mr. President?”

It’s kind of epic all over again, because it’s Dennis Rodman putting the president into quite the predicament.

As Secretary of State, and arguably one of the best we’ve ever had, Hillary Clinton wanted to but never got to Kim Jong Un … but Dennis Rodman did. Will the president accept the opportunity, pick up the phone and talk to one of the world’s most violent and hated leaders? Only time will tell.

As for Dennis Rodman’s future itineraries in the East, he says he wants to go back to “find out more.” Great. Dennis Rodman wants to be a diplomat. I think need a tall glass of iced bleach.

But then again, what do I know?

PHOTOS FROM DENNIS RODMAN’S TRIP TO NORTH KOREA ARE BELOW:

A Georgia woman is suing Michael Jordan for child support on claims that her 16-year-old son is the product of her previous relationship with the NBA legend in 1995 when he was still married to his now ex-wife Juanita Vanoy.

According to TMZ, in a suit filed on February 6th, Pamela Smith said that she “welcomes” a paternity test to prove that Jordan is the father of her son Grant Pierce Jordan Reynolds, whose nickname is Taj and was born in June 1996.

Smith also adds in her suit that she would like Taj’s legal last name changed to “Jordan,” and she wants MJ to pay for Taj’s medical expenses.

The suit comes at a “perfect” time for MJ too, as he is set to marry his fiancée Yvette Prieto next month.

For some time, rumors have been floating around that Jordan has a “secret love child” that lives in the Atlanta area, and last Christmas, the net was buzzing after a 16-year-old kid named Taj posted a video on YouTube claiming that the Michael Jordan was his father.

In the video, Taj — a self-proclaimed Hip Hop artist with over 40,000 Twitter followers — claims that his mom had an affair with Michael Jordan a while back, and that until recently, she had kept it a secret that Jordan was his father.

Taj with his mother Pamela Smith

When Taj found out his daddy was actually basketball legend Michael Jordan, he begged his mom to to make his alleged father step up to the plate, according to another TMZ report:

Sources close to Smith tell TMZ that she’s always had a good relationship with Michael and doesn’t need the money to support herself.

But we’re told her son — Grant Reynolds (a.k.a Taj) — desperately wants MJ to acknowledge him as his son, so HE begged his mom to file the docs.

We’re told Pamela’s intention was never to “call Michael out” — the lawsuit is simply so her 16-year-old son can have his real (alleged) father be a bigger part of his life.

In fact, we’re told Michael and Grant have met a few times over the years and Pamela claims Michael has given the family money and gifts here and there … but Grant always had to keep it a secret.

Now, apparently, Taj wants the whole world to know that his daddy is Michael Jordan. And who can blame him? If Michael Jordan were your father, you would want everyone to know too, wouldn’t you? I know I would.

Me to stranger: “Hey, you! I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. But I’m sure you know my father. His name is Michael Jordan. Yes, THE Michael Jordan. The one with the bald head, that left earring and all of those millions. Yup, that’s my dad. Jealous? Don’t worry, I would be too.”

Magic Johnson is practically BEGGING basketball phenom LeBron James to participate in next year’s NBA All-Star slam dunk contest.

In fact, Magic wants LeBron to do the dunk contest so bad, that he’s offering Bron-Bron $1 million if the NBA player decides to finally enter All-Star weekend’s marquee event next year.

The NBA currently pays $100,000 to the Sprite-sponsored slam dunk contest’s winner and $50K to the runner-up, but Magic is offering 7 figures to either LeBron or the person that defeats the Miami Heat superstar.

“Please, LeBron, get in the dunk contest. I’m going to put up a million dollars,” Johnson said on ESPN‘s Kia NBA Countdown. “A million dollars from Magic to LeBron. Please get in the dunk contest. I go every year. I want to see you out there. A million to the winner.”

For whatever reason, James has refused to participate in the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest every year. But recently he’s been putting on dunk shows before Miami home games during warm-ups, which has reignited the public’s interest in seeing him take part in the annual festivities.

WATCH LEBRON SHOW OFF HIS SICK DUNKING SKILLS BELOW:

Remember that top WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw who was arrested in Atlanta last year for her violent encounter with ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lacy? Well, it looks like Holdsclaw has officially been hit with criminal charges, and she could be facing up to 65 years in prison if she’s convicted.

To refresh your memory of that violent encounter, Chamique allegedly attacked Lacy’s car with a baseball bat, then fired a gun — yes, she fired a GUN — into the car while Lacy sat in the driver’s seat, according to the police report.

Chamique Holdsclaw has now been charged with 6 crimes in total. Those counts include aggravated assault, 1 count of criminal damage in the first degree, 2 counts of criminal damage in the second degree, and last but most certainly not least, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

So what exactly sent Chamique over the edge on that fateful night? Well, to put it simply … the two had broken up, and Jennifer decided to move on with her life.

Talk about a thin line between love and violence!! Well, some like to combine the two and call it love, but you get where I’m going. The combination can be pretty bad.

Up to 65 years behind bars over a person who has moved on, and is still going to move on definitely, is not worth it. I’m sure Chamique understands that now.

She better say a prayer or two … or maybe three.

If you’re tired of the “Harlem Shake,” well then that’s too damn bad, because a new video released by the Miami Heat is probably going to make the weird dance craze even more popular.

Titled “Harlem Shake: Miami Heat Edition,” the less than 1 minute video clip shows the Miami Heat dancing to “The Harlem Shake,” complete with solo dance breaks and wacky costumes.

LeBron James is dressed up like a king (King James. Get it?), Mario Chalmers is supposed to be Super Mario (Clever! LOL), Chris Bosh is rocking a cowboy hat with a huge gold boombox on his shoulders, and someone who appears to be Dwyane Wade is wearing a bear head. It’s pretty difficult to decipher the other teammates in the clip though.

For those unaware of what the “Harlem Shake” is, and what it’s all about, let us forewarn you that it is NOT the same dance that Bow Wow used to do back in the early 2000′s when he was “Lil Bow Wow.” This is something totally different.

According to Wiki:

The videos last between 30 and 32 seconds and feature an excerpt from the song “Harlem Shake” by electronic musician Baauer. Usually, a video begins with one person (often helmeted or masked) dancing to the song alone for 15 seconds, surrounded by other people not paying attention or unaware of the dancing individual.

When the bass drops, the video cuts to the entire crowd doing a crazy convulsive dance for the next 15 seconds. The dancing style should not be confused with the original Harlem Shake dance. Additionally, in the second half of the video, people often wear a minimum of clothes or crazy outfits or costumes while wielding strange props.

LeBron and his boys may be a little late to the “Harlem Shake” party, but this video is HILARIOUS:

After 50 Cent bedded Chelsea Handler, he must’ve assumed that every white woman had jungle fever for him, cause he just crept all up on poor reporter Erin Andrews at a NASCAR event like they were real familiar.

As Andrews was making her way through the crowd and giving her on-air report, she unexpectedly bumped into 50 Cent, who immediately went in for a peck on the cheek.

WTF? Is 50 Cent Italian now? We know he ain’t greetin’ chicks in Queens with a kiss on the cheek so why’s he tryin’ to act all fancy now?

Anyway, Erin was clearly caught off guard she tried to avoid his kiss like he had a herpes outbreak on his lips. She whipped her head around furiously before she graciously offered 50 her cheek for a quick peck.

Watch the whole fumbling scene play out below:

Next question: What the hell was 50 Cent doing at a NASCAR event anyway?

According to the NBA, Lil Wayne is a big fat LIAR!

You’ll recall earlier this week when the rapper fired off a profanity-filled rant against the NBA, the Miami Heat and its superstars Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. ESPECIALLY Chris Bosh.

More on that in a second. But in his rant, Weezy claimed that he was banned from all NBA events — including All-Star weekend — because of his beef with the Miami Heat organization … most notably last week’s incident when the rapper said was kicked out of a Heat vs. L.A. Lakers game in Miami for rooting for Los Angeles.

The Heat says Wayne left on his own after being approached by stadium security … but that didn’t stop Weezy from going in the Heat and the NBA as a collective at a concert in Houston on Sunday:

“The NBA banned me from all NBA events … it’s because the Miami Heat told them to ban me.”

“When I say f*ck, you say NBA! When I say f*ck, you say Miami Heat!” F*ck LeBron. F*ck She Wade. F**k Chris Bosh. F*ck all y’all.”

And if that wasn’t enough, Wayne also dropped this little bomb:

“And, and, and, I f–ked Chris Bosh wife.”

Ouch! It’s one thing to diss a man, his team and his employers … but to bring his innocent wife into all of this? That’s just plain cruel, Weezy.

Regarding his claim that the National Basketball Association has banned him from all future events, Mark Broussard, Senior Director of Basketball Communications for the NBA told TMZ that it wasn’t true.

However, what may be true, was Lil Wayne’s little statement about banging Chris Bosh’s beautiful wife Adrienne.

According to our friends over at Global Grind, Wayne and Adrienne dated before she got married to Bosh — when she was a model going by the name Adrienne “Short Stack” Williams.

But the short-lived relationship turned sour when Adrienne allegedly disappeared after she lied to the rapper about having cancer, and conned him out of thousands of dollars for medical treatment that she never really needed in the first place.

Neither Chris nor Adrienne have responded to all of the hoopla, but Adrienne did kinda sorta respond on Twitter the other day when she retweeted this message from her friend Gabrielle Union:

Some people attack those who have the peace & joy they wish they had! Pay them no mind! Live your dream, strut & wave.

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) February 18, 2013

Wearing the loudest jacket he could find (and his signature black lipstick), former basketball player and current professional hot mess Dennis Rodman hit up the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

While there, Rodman — who made it a point to show off his brightly colored nail polish — talked to Leno about everything from his new children’s book and what he’s been doing lately, to his daughter, appearing on “Celebrity Apprentice All-Stars,” and the recent death of Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, who Rodman said was like a father to him.

Struggling to hold back a river of tears, Rodman got choked up when Leno brought up Dr. Buss’ death.

“He’s like my dad. Damn man, it’s like, wow,” the emotional NBA Hall of Famer said as he struggled to find the words to express himself. “I didn’t want to bring this up, you know. He’s just … like a dad. I never had a dad so — what the hell. It’s just awesome, man.”

Dennis Rodman played for the Lakers during the 1998-99 season. Dr. Buss, who died at the age of 80 after a private battle with cancer, purchased the Lakers 10 years prior in 1979.

Watch Dennis Rodman’s interview with Leno below:

Leave it to Lil Wayne to keep it classy. The tumbleweed-haired, tattooed, wild thing took the stage to rant about the Miami Heat, the NBA and to claim that he bedded Chris Bosh‘s wife. Sounds like a great way to make friends, if you ask us.

Wayne, who was booted from a Miami Heat game last week, let loose during a performance at All-Star weekend, TMZ reports.

“When I say f**k, you say NBA! When I say f**k, you say Miami Heat!” He added, “F**k LeBron. F**k She Wade. F**k Chris Bosh. F**k all y’all.” And if that wasn’t enough … Weezy said, “I f**ked Chris Bosh wife.”

The good news is that even if Weezy did bed Bosh’s woman, at least she didn’t turn up pregnant. We all know how potent Wayne’s seed is, so at least Bosh doesn’t have to play stepdaddy to a spawn of Weezy.

When asked for comment on the matter, Chris Bosh said:

“Girl, you tried it.”

Here’s a pair you don’t expect to hear of together, but anything is possible. President Obama and Tiger Woods played golf together over the weekend.

President Obama was in Florida on a three-day vacation with First Lady Michelle Obama, and the Prez is known to be an avid golf player, so who better to play the game with than one of the best?

The duo played Sunday (Feb 17) at The Floridan Golf Club in Palm City, Fla and were also joined by the club’s owner Jim Crane, as well as Woods’ former swing coach Butch Harmon.

“Well, when you get to play with the president and Tiger Woods in the same round, that’s one that doesn’t happen every day and it might not happen again,” Crane told MLB.com. “It was a lot of fun. The President was very cordial, and Tiger had a lot of fun and hit some great shots. We had a lot of fun.”

On the President’s golf game, Crane added, “He played well today. He made some good shots and had some pars, and I think he shot in the 80s. The weather was nice and we had fun. I think he really enjoyed his visit and we really enjoyed having him in the Floridian, and hopefully we’ll have him back some day.”

Harmon told Golf Digest, “Just to see the interaction between the two on the range was pretty neat. The President said to Tiger: ‘The last tournament you played was fun to watch. It’s good to see you play well again.’ You could tell he meant it. It just wasn’t a throw it out compliment.”

Wonder if we’ll ever see the president and Michael Jordan on the basketball court. Wouldn’t that be epic?

If you were alive tonight, you are fully aware that Beyonce — Queen of the World — delivered a FANTASTIC Super Bowl Halftime show performance in New Orleans.

And we’re not just saying that because we’re super huge Beyonce fans either (OK, maybe we are). But either way, whether you love or hate Beyonce, you can’t deny the fact that she really killed it!!!

Following last month’s lip-synching non-scandal following President Obama’s inauguration, Beyonce was definitely under pressure to deliver a brilliant, awe-inspiring, show-stopping, unforgettable performance.

And guess what? SHE DID!!!

Rocking a sexy, all-black leather corset and skirt — which she ripped off at the beginning while performing her first solo hit song “Crazy In Love” — Beyonce performed in front of an estimated 76,468 people, the seating capacity of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, as well as the hundreds of millions of other people watching all around the world.

Beyonce kicked off her 12-minute Halftime Show performance — which she had reportedly been rehearsing for since last October — with a medley of her hits, including “Run the World (Girls),” “Love On Top,” the aforementioned “Crazy In Love,” “End of Time” and “Baby Boy.” Confirming the rumors leading up to tonight’s show, her Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined her on stage for a medley of “Bootylicious,” “Independent Women” and “Single Ladies.”

After her DC3 bandmates exited the stage, Beyonce’s spectacle of a performance ended on a soft note, with her singing a beautiful rendition of “Halo,” as the stadium lit up with blue lights all over.

“Thank you for this moment. God bless you all,” Beyonce said after the crowd gave her a roaring round of applause.

Watch Beyonce KILL IT below!

‘Twas the night before the Super Bowl, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring. Not even a mouse.

Queen Beyonce is slated to take over the Halftime Show at the Super Bowl XLVII in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans and if all goes according to plan, Beyonce will slay.

After the lip synching scandal soured her performance at the president’s second inauguration, we can expect Beyonce to turn it up times ten as she attempts to silence her critics and eviscerate her detractors.

Ahead of her major-league performance, Beyonce teased the Beyhive on Facebook with the photo above asking, “You guys ready?”

And she also posted this final “behind the scenes” video leading up her big performance tonight:

Rather than respond with words, we’ll let a few good GIFs do the talking.

This is gonna be the best Halftime Show

…EVER!

It’s no secret that Beyonce is a true perfectionist. “One thing about me is that I practice until my feet bleed,” she said at yesterday’s Super Bowl press conference, where she sang an a cappella rendition of the National Anthem in an effort to silence the critics who blasted her for singing along to a backing track at President Obama’s inauguration last month.

So it’s no surprise that she has reportedly been rehearsing for her upcoming Super Bowl Halftime show performance since last October, when it was first announced that she would be taking the stage at one of the biggest events this year

The Super Bowl Halftime Show is usually watched by around 100 million people, the biggest live viewing audience in the entire history of Beyonce’s career. So to prepare for that, the singer has put in over 3 months of training to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Super Bowl XLVII goes down this Sunday (Feb 3), when the San Francisco 49ers take on the Baltimore Ravens for this year’s NFL title, and when the game pauses for halftime, Beyonce will surely be ready for the biggest performance of her career.

Meanwhile, there are reports floating around that Beyonce has been making “diva-like demands” for her family during their stay in New Orleans.

A report from British tabloid The Daily Star claims that in addition to demands for her husband Jay-Z to have $6,000 in expensive cigars and alcohol, she also lists in her rider that she wants her 1-year-old daughter Blue Ivy’s $20,000 cedar bed be shipped from their home in New York to the Mercedes-Benz Sueprdome in NOLA. And she wants a make-shift nursery to be constructed there, decorated with rose-scented candles, and kept at a constant temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

“She’s by far one of the most difficult celebrities we’ve ever dealt with,” an anonymous source allegedly complained. “The list is as long as my arm. She may be a superstar, but this day is about football not her.”

But NFL’s Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy denies those made-up reports, saying that Beyonce and her team haven’t been “difficult” to work with at all.

“Beyonce and her team have been great to work with throughout this process,” McCarthy said, according to the Kansas City Star. “We have enjoyed her creativity, vision and spirit in putting on a great show that is truly a Super Bowl performance,” he added.

Us Weekly also quoted sources that noted that Beyonce has been “incredibly gracious” during rehearsals, even personally thanking every single one of the hundreds and hundreds of people who are helping with her big performance.

Additional reports regarding Beyonce’s upcoming Super Bowl performance note that the singer will not be paid for it. An NFL spokesperson confirmed that the NFL traditionally doesn’t pay artists who do the Halftime Show, but they do pay up to $600,000 for production costs.

So even though Beyonce will be performing for free (which really isn’t a big deal, considering you can’t even pay for that type of exposure), everyone else on her team — including her band, backup dancers, technical crew, etc. — will be paid for their time, and any additional production costs will be covered by her new $50 million partnership with Pepsi.

Other than a few behind the scenes videos and photos posted on Tumblr and Instagram, Beyonce and her people are keeping the details about her much-anticipated halftime performance under wraps, but rumors suggest that her former Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams will join her on stage.

Further corroborating those claims is a special note on the website for the musical “Fela!” — which stars Michelle Williams — that states that Williams will not be appearing in the show in the days leading up to and including the Super Bowl (Jan 31 – Feb 3).

When Beyonce was asked about a possible one-off Destiny’s Child reunion at her Super Bowl press conference yesterday, she said, “I don’t know. I can’t really give you any details. I’m sorry!” — which really means, “YES” in celebrity terms.

So based on the fact that Beyonce is on the hush about it, and Michelle is taking time off from her musical, there’s a 99.99% chance that the other two Destiny’s children will be joining their leader on stage this Sunday in New Orleans.

And just in case you were wondering, NO. Beyonce will NOT be lip-synching during her nearly 15-minute performance. At her press conference yesterday, she adamantly stated:

“I will absolutely be singing live [at the Super Bowl]. I am well rehearsed. This is what I was born to do.”

Since we know you absolutely can’t wait for Beyonce’s big Super Bowl performance, check out some behind the scenes footage below to hold you over until Sunday night:

While pointing out famous people in the crowd during today’s inauguration of President Obama, ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos made a fool of himself when he confused NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell for actor Morgan Freeman.

“That’s Morgan Freeman, I think, right there on the Capitol steps,” said Stephanopoulos, who probably thinks all black people look alike. “No, Bill Russell, I’m sorry,” he said after he was quickly corrected by a member of the production crew.

Never mind that Morgan Freeman looks ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like Bill Russell, who is 6-feet-10 tall and was wearing a Boston Celtics cap, and looks ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like Morgan Freeman, who looks ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like Bill Russell.

Did we mention that Morgan Freeman and Bill Russell look ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like each other? Because they don’t.

[The Score]

The Internet and media world freaking exploded last night when Gawker Media’s Deadspin scored the journalistic coup of a lifetime in its extensive report about Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te’o‘s “dead” girlfriend Lennay Kekua was fake. Made up. A hoax.

For the past year, Te’o has repeated variations of his story about losing his grandmother and his girlfriend within hours of each on the same day. ESPN, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated and the South Bend Tribune were among the MANY media outlets who failed to do thorough background checks on the story. Instead, they relied on the testimony of Te’o and his father, Brian Te’o.

In response to this alarming news, Te’o and the University of Notre Dame have both released statements saying that Te’o had no idea that Kekua was fake. Te’o claims he was the victim of a “Catfish,” which is a term linked to a documentary and MTV show that tracks down Internet posers who engage in fraudulent relationships with people online.

You can read Te’o and the university’s staements here if you’re interested.

But here’s the thing: Te’o's version of events doesn’t answer the damning evidence that Deadspin has compiled.

First, the story of Te’o never meeting Kekua is not the story that was told in the media. The South Bend Tribune painted a breathless encounter outside of a Palo Alto football game that sounded like it was straight out of Dawson’s Creek.

It never felt like a chance meeting, although it probably appeared that way from the outside looking in.

Their stares got pleasantly tangled, then Manti Te’o extended his hand to the stranger with a warm smile and soulful eyes.

They could have just as easily brushed past each other and into separate sunsets. Te’o had plenty to preoccupy himself that November weekend in Palo Alto, Calif., back in 2009.

Te’o NEVER challenged this version of events at all. If he never met (or even Skyped with her), how the hell did he and his family let this version of events become such a popular story?

Second, the links between Te’o and Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the alleged perpetrator behind the made-up Kekua identity, are hard to deny.

From Deadspin’s extensive story:

Te’o and Tuiasosopo definitely know each other. In May 2012, Te’o was retweeting Tuiasosopo, who had mentioned going to Hawaii. Wrote Te’o, “sole”—”bro,” in Samoan—”u gotta come down.”

In June, Te’o wished Tuiasosopo a happy birthday. How they know each other isn’t clear. We spoke to a woman we’ll call Frieda, who had suggested on Twitter back in December that there was something fishy about Lennay Kekua. She was Facebook friends with Titus Tuiasosopo, so we asked her if she knew anything about Ronaiah.

“Manti and Ronaiah are family,” she said, “or at least family friends.” She told us that the Tuiasosopos had been on-field guests (of Te’o or someone else, she didn’t know) for the Nov. 24 Notre Dame-USC game in Los Angeles.

USC was unable to confirm this, but a tweet from Tuiasosopo’s since-deleted account suggests he and Te’o did see each other on that West Coast trip. “Great night with my bro @MTeo_5! #Heisman #574L,” Ronaiah tweeted on Nov. 23, the night before the game.

Yeah. This, along with the fact that Te’o interacted with a fake Twitter account that claimed to be Kekua’s sister and then went back and DELETED his interactions with her reek of someone who was in on the lie from the jump.

Manti Te’o wants to protect his legacy, but at this point, it’s way, way too late for that. He needs to do like John Edwards and Lance Armstrong did and are doing now: Come clean. Throwing lies on top of more lies is no way to get out of this situation.

The implausibility of a young football player carrying an exclusively long-distance relationship with a “girlfriend” he’s never met or even video chatted with, who then dies and conveniently tells him NOT to attend her funeral is simply too much of a horseshit pill to swallow.

Consider this a bet: Manti Te’o is not telling us the whole truth and there will be more tears and apologies to come from him soon. Deadspin did its homework on this one and too many signs are pointing right back at Te’o for us to believe his sob story.

And we aren’t the only ones, Jemele Hill of ESPN and Jeff Darlington of the NFL Network have their doubts as well:

Sorry, my spidey senses aren’t completely buying Manti Te’o's side of the story.

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 17, 2013

So he never met her. He knew her so well she could pull off this hoax. And he didn’t attend her funeral. But he was in love? Ok. Got it.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 17, 2013

Do you believe Manti Te’o?

In perhaps one of the strangest stories to emerge from NBA this season, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks got into an altercation of sorts with Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics Monday night (Jan 7) in New York City after the Celtics beat the Knicks 102-96. Which seems pretty normal on the outside, but it’s the (alleged & unconfirmed) details that make the whole situation very strange, to say the least.

Apparently, Anthony and Garnett had been going at it all game, but the hostility between the two NBA stars came to a serious head when the players got into a shouting match with each other on the court after a particularly physical possession in the fourth quarter. (Video footage below)

As you can see in the clip, Carmelo was pretty pissed, though about what remains unclear. There are numerous reports floating around that KG whispered into Melo’s ear that wife LaLa Anthony “tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios,” but neither Kevin nor Carmelo are confirming exactly what was said, if anything.

Both players were served with double technicals, and at the end of the game, Anthony is rumored to have went straight to the Celtics locker room to wait for Garnett.

According to ESPN:

After the game, Anthony angrily walked off the floor and out of the tunnel that visiting teams use to exit the floor, instead of exiting out of the Knicks’ tunnel. Tyson Chandler appeared to try to stop Anthony, but he blew by the Knicks center. According to one of the sources with knowledge of the incident, Anthony approached the Celtics’ locker room and was screaming. It is unclear whether his ire at the time was directed at Garnett.

And that was only the beginning of the night’s activities. The squabble between Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett eventually spilled over to the garage below Madison Square Garden, where Carmelo reportedly waited outside the Celtics’ tour bus to confront Kevin once again.

TMZ acquired video footage (see below) that shows the basketball stars screaming back and forth at each other, clearly looking for a fight, as MSG security and police struggle to keep the big guys apart (FYI: Carmelo is 6’8, 230 pounds, and KG is 6’11, 250 pounds).

The two never came to physical blows, ESPN reported, and Kevin was able to safely board his team’s bus.

The next day, after all was said and done, Carmelo told reporters that KG had insulted him on the court and said some things that “crossed the line.”

“It’s something you just don’t say to men, another man,” Anthony said Tuesday (Jan 8) after practice. He also explained that contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t looking to fight Kevin at all. (Yeah right!)

“My mindset and motive of going back there to see him at the locker room and seeing him at the bus, I wanted to have a one-on-one conversation with him and talk about it like two grown men,” Carmelo said.

Things now seemed to have been smoothed over between the two players, as league sources say Melo and KG squashed their beef over a phone conversation.

Still, Carmelo’s post-game actions apparently didn’t sit too well with the NBA, because they suspended him for one game — tonight’s, against the Indiana Pacers — without pay.

A rep for the league said in a statement, “There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable to confront an opponent after a game. Carmelo Anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday’s game, and therefore a suspension was warranted.”

As for the alleged comments from KG about his wife tasting like honey nut cheerios, Carmelo refuses to entertain them.

“That’s over with, I don’t even want to go back to that,” he told inquisitive reporters. “No disrespect, but I don’t wanna keep talking about the same thing and beating a dead horse. No disrespect, but I don’t wanna keep talking about the same thing and beating a dead horse.”

NFL star Jovan Belcher — a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs — shot and killed his girlfriend, then took his own life early Saturday morning (Dec 1), according to various confirmed reports.

Officials from the Kansas City Police Department say that Belcher and his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins — who had just given birth to their daughter less than three months ago — had been arguing earlier in the morning at their home, at around 7:00 a.m. local time, when Belcher fatally shot her multiple times.

Perkins was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Her mother was at the home and reportedly witnessed the shooting; and tipped police off about the incident.

According to police, 25-year-old Belcher left the scene, then drove about 5 miles to the team practice facility at Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in front of two team officials — Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel — who both spoke briefly with the NFL star before he turned the gun on himself.

Police say before he shot himself in the head, Belcher — who had been with the Chiefs for the past four seasons thanked Pioli and Crennel for everything they had done for him. The coaches told police they never felt as though they were in danger.

As of right now, authorities have no idea of a possible motive for the murder-suicide, which has obviously stunned his teammates, and came one day before the Chiefs are scheduled to play against the Carolina Panthers at home. The NFL has said that the game will go on as scheduled.

We don’t know what the hell has been going on with Boston Celtics player Paul Pierce lately, but it looks like he has become good friends with the floor.

Sunday night (Nov 25), Jameer Nelson of the Orlando Magic sent old man Paul to the ground with the most simple non-crossover in the history of the game of basketball. Nelson missed his shot, but still … look at that fall from Pierce!

And just three days later on Wednesday night (Nov 28) Brooklyn Nets player Joe Johnson knocked down a sweet jumper after shaking the finuck out of 35-year-old Pierce and making him look like an honorary member of the twerk team.

SMDH… Two falls in one week, and we’re not even halfway through the season yet!

To be fair, Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs got his ankles broke too, by Pacers guard Lance Stephenson, and Tony’s 30, so it’s not just an old man thing

But twice, Paul Pierce?

TWICE?!?!

[Gif via SB Nation]

Well this is pretty awkward. Sometimes, social media can get the best of us all, but when athletes decide to take Twitpics of themselves in the locker room, it might behoove them to remember that some of their teammates might actually be using the locker room for it’s intended purpose: Getting dressed.

Chicago Bears player  n unwittingly showed his teammate’s ass on the world wide web today when he excitedly tweeted out a photo of a surprise package from his alma mater, the University of Central Florida.

What a nice treat this morning waiting for me at my locker. What can it be?#UCF twitter.com/BMarshall/stat…

— Brandon Marshall (@BMarshall) November 14, 2012

They had apparently decided to send the football star a complimentary t-shirt. Whoop dee doo! Marshall was eager to show off the free UCF swag, so he put on the shirt and snapped a pic of himself in the locker room. Unfortunately, there was a full moon captured in the shot.

Once Marshall realized what he’d done, he quickly deleted the tweet and apologized for the full-fledged glimpse of man ass he inflicted on the masses.

Sorry about my guy in the back getting dressed in that photo.

— Brandon Marshall (@BMarshall) November 14, 2012

The poor guy whose nakedness was sent out to the world without his permission has yet to come forward, but some sharp-eyed Twitter folks are saying it was D.J. Moore.

@bmarshall Why u put @djmoore30out there like that B???

— J Delgado (@Bearfan4ever001) November 14, 2012

[DeadSpin]

Who run the world? Apparently little girls who play football! Say hello to little Sam Gordon, a 9-year-old girl playing quarterback for the Salt Lake City Gremlin League. (Check out that serious game face!)

35 Scores

232 Carries

1,911 Yards

82 Yards per Carry

65 Tackles

BEASTING ON ‘EM!

We also think it’s pretty cool that her name is unisex, which removes any stigmas related to gender from an unsuspecting spectator. Who knew that fast little squirrell on the field is a cute little girl?

Check out this recent interview of Sam and her Dad on “Good Morning America” below:

Boys … better get back to training!

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown was fired this week following the team’s dreadful 1-4 start to the 2012-2013 NBA season.

The new Laker squad which brought in superstars Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to join Kobe Bryant so far failed to live up to the expectations of Lakers fans across the nation. Steve Nash has also suffered from multiple knee/leg injuries, which doesn’t help the situation either.

The Lakers opted to pay the remaining three years on Mike Brown’s 18 million dollar four year contract as if it were a simple tax for improving the teams play.

Now Lakers fans have turned their attention to the the race that will ensue for the head coaching job, and the zen master Phil Jackson is at the top of the list.

After leaving the Lakers at the end of the 2010-2011 season, many thought this would be the last of Phil Jackson. However, to the delight of Laker Nation, it seems that the Lakers are closer to re-signing the winningest coach in NBA history.

Kobe Bryant spoke briefly about the potential of being reunited with his former coach after the Los Angeles defeated the Golden State Warriors 101-77.

“You guys know how I feel about Phil,” Bryant said, according to USA Today. “The one thing that’s kind of always bothered me is that his last year (in 2011) I wasn’t able to give him my normal self, you know what I mean? Because I was playing on one leg. That’s always eaten away at me. The last year of his career I wasn’t able to give him everything I had.”

“He’s too great of a coach to go out that way,” Bryant said. “That’s my personal sentiment. For me, it was just … I took it to heart because I couldn’t give it everything that I had, because my knee was shot. That’s always kind of bothered me.”

The team has a few other candidates in the running for his replacement, but in the meantime Brian Bickerstaff will serve as interim head coach. Stll, Laker fans will surely have their fingers crossed for a return from Phil Jackson.

One thing’s for sure, no matter who is hired expect Kobe Bryant’s influence as a team leader to increase even further. If we were in the Lakers front office it might be time to consider having Kobe Bryant as the first player-coach in the NBA.

Let’s be honest, most will remember Mike Brown’s stint with the Lakers ending due to one of the meanest side-eyes captured in live sports history. (See below)

Hopefully the Lakers can pull things together quickly … or it will be a long season of rumors and drama in the locker room at the Staples Center.

Lamar Odom seems to be a bit confused about the basketball team he plays for. A recent video clip from the Los Angeles Clippers’ media day shows Odom — dressed in full Clippers gear — accidentally identifying himself as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. (At least he got the city right!)

“Hi, I’m Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers,” the 6-foot-10 Forward said.

Too bad Lamar plays for the CLIPPERS now, and not the Lakers. When told of his mistake, Odom says in the video, “I said Lakers?!”

Yes, Lamar. You said Lakers.

Easy mistake though … seeing as when Lamar Odom was first drafted into the NBA in 1999, he spent four seasons playing for the Clippers, followed by one season with the Miami Heat and seven illustrious years with the L.A. Lakers. And last December, Odom was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, before he was traded back to his original team, the Clippers.

So after all of that switching back and forth (three teams in one 12-month period!), it’s almost understandable why Lamar would be confused as to which team he actually plays for right now. Either that or he really wants to be a Laker again. Probably a little bit of both.

Instead of keeping up with the Kardashians, Lamar needs to keep up with what NBA team he plays for.

Well, this is pretty awkward. NBA Commissioner David Stern just made the worst mix up of his career during the Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat game in Miami tonight.

In an attempt to show solidarity with the millions of Americans struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Stern wanted to show that his thoughts were with them.

The only problem is that he named the wrong hurricane when he spoke.

“Before we begin, I know that everyone here and around America watching has in their thoughts and in their abiding concerns those who were affected by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. That said, we have a celebration tonight.”

Sir, Hurricane Katrina was in 2005. Get your facts right.

Sheesh, if he’s mixing up the names of natural disasters, we can only imagine the awful job he does in keeping the names of his NBA groupies in order.

Whose idea was it to hand Lil’ Wayne a mic without autotune on it? Cause the raw, shredded up, froggy vocals the rapper dropped on the audience while singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals game was an act of torture and cruelty.

The only thing that could possibly sound worse would be hearing Christina Aguilera holler “At Last” with a raging case of hemorrhoids.

Listen to Lil’ Wayne’s take on the national pastime’s anthem below:

From now on, baseball fans should make sure to come to all future games equipped with earplugs AND ear muffs.

Who even knew that Lil’ Wayne liked baseball? What next? Will he be hitting up tennis and cricket matches too?

Praise the divine Blue Ivy! This year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show is going to be unBEYlievable. Yes, megastar Beyonce has been confirmed as the halftime show performer by the NFL.

The NFL confirmed the announcement through Twitter:

Beyonce will perform @pepsi #SB47 Halftime Show in New Orleans. Feb. 3 2013 on @cbs. twitter.com/SuperBowl/stat…

— Super Bowl XLVII (@SuperBowl) October 16, 2012

This is amazing, because it means the Super Bowl Halftime performers are trending back toward relevant, young artists and away from dried up, shriveled old fossils like Paul McCartney.

We do have to wonder what Beyonce’s set list will be like. “Single Ladies” will most likely be on there, but will Beyonce overdose by double-dipping on feminism with her “4″ girl power anthem, “Run the World”?

Another question: Will Jay-Z be making a guest appearance? How could he not. It’s the Super Bowl.

And we can’t forget about Destiny’s Child. Could a quick, one-off reunion be on the horizon?

Guess we’ll just have to wait and see on February 3rd!

In the words of Scooby Doo: Ruh oh, Raggy!

Philadelphia Eagles football player Michael Vick has come clean about a dirty secret: He owns a dog.

Yes, you read that right. The man whose career was sunk with an infamous dog fighting scandal is back to owning dogs again, according to TMZ.

Vick says, “I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet. As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals.”

Vick goes on, “I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God’s creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family.”

Vick continues, “This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change.”

Whatever you say, Mike V.

Do you think it’s okay for Michael Vick to be a dog owner again … or is it too soon?

Former NFL running back Larry Johnson was arrested in Las Vegas last Friday (Oct 5) on domestic violence charges after police say he attacked and strangled a woman who is believed to be his ex-girlfriend.

According to TMZ, Las Vegas police were called to the Bellagio Hotel at around 4 a.m. when they found the alleged victim crying with visible bruises and scratches all over her neck.

Police said Johnson had small scratches on his face as well, and the woman told them that he had choked her to the point of unconsciousness.

Johnson — who once signed a $45 million NFL contract with the Kansas City Chiefs — was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and was released the next day after posting $15,000 bond. He’s due back in court on October 11th.

When the news broke about his arrest, Johnson reached out to TMZ, telling them that he did not strangle his ex girlfriend, and he has the evidence to prove it.

Johnson claims [the woman's story] is BS. He tells TMZ the woman — who he says was just an old acquaintance — would not leave his hotel room after a night of partying at Bank Nightclub. Johnson says the woman began to kick and slap him as he tried to remove her.

Johnson says once he got her outside the room, she began to try and kick the door down — which Johnson feels should have been caught on surveillance cameras, proving she was never near unconsciousness.

Johnson said he tried to tell the police his side of the story but they weren’t trying to hear it. And based on his prior arrests, you can’t blame them for giving LJ’s story the side-eye.

The 32-year-old has reportedly been arrested 4 other times since 2003, and each time he was accused of assaulting a woman.

In 2008, he was sued for allegedly spitting on a woman in a nightclub. He paid $100K to settle that case. And in 2011, he was sued for allegedly beating up a man in Miami Beach, which has yet to be settled.

But Larry still maintains his innocence, saying in a statement to TMZ, “I know people will try to pass judgement on me from my previous record but I didn’t do what I am being charged with.”

Johnson — who is (or at least used to be) really good friends with Jay Z — used to date TV personality Julissa Bermudez, and many assumed her to be the victim when news first broke, however Julissa herself commented on Twitter that Larry is her ex for a reason, proving that she is most definitely NOT the woman in this situation.

@janeetmb that’s why he’s my ex.

— Julissa Bermudez(@JulissaB) October 5, 2012

This is the halftime performance of the Ohio State University Marching Band — nicknamed “TBDBITL (The Best Damn Band In The Land)” — at last Saturday’s (Oct 6) football game against Nebraska.

The theme was video games, and included several mind-blowing formations from popular titles like Space Invaders, Pokemon, Mario, Halo, Zelda, Tetris, Pacman and many others.

Here are 10 Reasons Why Ohio State’s Marching Band Is Amazing (via BuzzFeed):

1. Space Invaders!

2. Pokémon!

3. Mario!

4. Halo!

5. Zelda!

6. Link’s horse from Zelda!

7. Tetris!

8. One of Bowser’s castles having a Michigan flag taken down and an Ohio State flag raised!

9. Pac-Man!

10. Oh also, they’re great at playing music.

[BuzzFeed]

It’s time to say goodbye to the replacement refs, and hello to the REAL referees … because the NFL has finally reached an agreement to end the lockout that has plagued the league and outcome of football games over the past few weeks.

After two days of negotiation — amid mounting frustration among coaches, players and fans — the NFL and the referees’ union announced at the strike of midnight Thursday (Sep 27) that they had reached a tentative agreement to end the lockout that began in June, the Associated Press reports.

The details of the agreement (an 8-year deal calling for salary increases, improved retirement benefits, etc.) are long, and boring, but what everyone really cares about is that the REAL referees are back, and world order can now be restored.

So maybe this week’s Monday Night Football disaster — which, depending on who you talk to, either cost the Greenbay Packers a win, or earned the Seattle Seahawks one — wasn’t so bad after-all, considering it put a rush on both sides to finally end the madness.

The real refs will officiate tonight’s game between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens.

Last night, a bad call by the NFL’s replacement referees cost the Green Bay Packers a win, and everyone’s talking about it. Everyone except for you, hiding in your office, unable to understand 50 percent of the words in the previous sentence, faking a coughing fit every time one of your coworkers passes by.

Well, non sports fan, we’re here to save you. This is everything you need to know about the NFL’s replacement referee fiasco and last night’s crazy Green Bay-Seattle game — tailored for people who’ve never watched a minute of professional football.

Let’s start with the basics. What, uh, sport, are we talking about here, exactly?

We’re talking about American Football. Brown ball, kind of oval-shaped.

Okay, and what happened on Football last night?

The Seattle Seahawks played the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks are down by five going into the game’s final seconds, and Russell Wilson throws a Hail Mary —

Whoa, there, tiger. What?

The Seahawks’ ball-throwing man threw the ball toward the point-scoring area, but the Packers’ tackling man caught the ball before the Seahawks’ ball-catching man did (an “interception”). This should have ended the game with the Packers winning. Instead, the referees — after some initial confusion — declared that the Seahawks’ ball-catching man had caught the ball and scored (“touchdown”), ending the game and making the Seahawks the winners.

Why did the referees make such a bad call?

Because they’re not real, N.F.L.-level referees — they’re replacements.

Replacements?

The N.F.L. has locked out the referees’ union in an attempt to force the refs to accept new employment terms. While the league and the union negotiate over things like retirement plans and raises, they’ve brought in a new crop of officials: low-level college and high-school referees, mostly. (Apparently one of the replacement refs was fired from the Lingerie Football League for incompetence.)

But after a huge embarrassment like this, the league will have to settle with the referees’ union quickly? Right?

Not necessarily. The referees are terrible, and changing the outcomes of games, but ratings are higher than ever, and the N.F.L. is rolling in dough. People love football! And the truth is that they might like it even more if there were no referees, just huge guys chasing slightly smaller guys around the field in order to beat them up.

What would it take to make a deal?

By all accounts the biggest sticking point in the negotiation is the retirement plan: the league wants all referees to move from a traditional pension plan, in which the league contributes a yearly $38,500 per ref and the officials are guaranteed money after retirement, to a 401(k) plan, where the employees contribute money are guaranteed a kind of vague, free-floating anxiety about the future. The union has said they’d agree to a deal putting all new employees on the 401(k) as long as current referees are grandfathered in; the N.F.L. says everyone needs to be on the 401(k).

There’s more, of course. Referees would like more money in the salary pool, currently $18 million distributed among the 121 union referees. (The league has agreed to bump it to $19 million.) The N.F.L. is also angling to hire more refs, and turn ten current officials — all of whom are part-time — into full-time league employees; the union is resistant to both of these changes, fearing for its members’ job security and compensation.

Refs are part-time?

Yeah — when the season is over, most of them work other jobs. Walt Coleman is a dairy farmer. Tony Corrente is a high-school teacher. Ed Hochuli is a lawyer/triceps model.

So not only do they make an average of $150,000 a year from the N.F.L., they also have income from their other jobs. That’s a lot of money.

Sure. But as the terrible replacements show, it’s a difficult, high-profile, essential position in a $9 billion business.

How terrible are the replacements, though? Have they messed up besides last night?

Boy, have they. Last night’s game was maybe the worst example, but Deadspin has been keeping track of the mistakes on a weekly basis.

I mean, that’s too bad. But it’s just a game! At least no one was hurt.

Well, that’s one of the problems. Refs are in charge of making sure that players are following the rules; when a lot of those rules relate to player safety, it’s important to have competent, commanding people on the field who can make sure those rules are being followed.

Plus, football is only “just a game” to terrorists and hippies. For Real Americans, football is America’s Pastime, Subcategory Likely to Cause Brain Injury, and Monday Night Football is its primary showcase. Last night’s game was watched by 15.5 million people; gamblers bet something like $250 million dollars, as they do for every Monday Night Football game. Already today, Paul Ryan and President Obama have talked about it. (“I half-think that these refs work part-time for the Obama administration and the Budget Office,” Ryan said, showing off his trademark wit.)

Will the N.F.L. do anything about the call from last night?

No. The league already released a deadpan fuck-you statement (that seemed to admit that the call could have been overturned) supporting the decision. It’s not going to budge.

So what is to be done?

The only thing left to do is to stop watching games. And fire this asshole.