Marc Stein (of ESPN), among other experts, is reporting that the Lakers-Kings trade involving Ron Artest and Lamar Odom is largely becoming more and more of a reality. The Lakers are sincerely interested in Artest, especially since his addition would bring the Lakers some physical defense- something which they lacked entirely in the Finals. Not to mention, Jerry Buss is a huge fan of Artest and Kobe and Artest have always had a mutually respectful relationship. Any thoughts on the swap?

Shaquille O'Neal has always aspired to be a police officer. And last night, after a man ran into his cadillac and attempted to drive off quickly, O'Neal and his bodyguard Jerome Crawford followed the driver to a gas station, where they directed cops to the driver.

So what do you like better: Inspector Shaq or Shaq Diesel on the court?

Lawrence Hill scored the last seven points of the game for Stanford and the Cardinal came away with a 75-68 win over the Bruins. This was UCLA's second loss of the season, and will surely damage their overall ranking. HIll ended up scoring 22 points for the Cardinal.

After UCLA led at halftime, Stanford ran away with the game in the second half. This game once again shows how tough the Pac-10 is this year. For all their shittiness in football this year, at least the Pac-10 is making up for it in basketball.

Check out this run-down of the funniest white basketball players the league has ever seen. There are just some pure classics on this site, like Will Perdue and Luc Longley. Not to mention, the descriptions are priceless.

Post-game reactions?

It's January 26, India's Republic Day, and also the birthdays of a few prominent sports stars, Wayne Gretzy and Vince Carter. Gretzky turns 46 while Carter turns 30. Gretzky will probably be remembered as the best to ever play the game of hockey, with his 9 MVP awards. Carter, on the other hand, is playing very well for the Nets, a team on the rise in the Eastern Conference.

Al Unser Jr., a two-time Indy 500 winner, was charged with driving under the influence after leaving the scene of a crash in Nevada on Thursday morning. Apparently, his car sideswiped another car on the Las Vegas freeway.

When the cops arrested him, he failed several sobriety tests upon being taken into custody. Apparently, the two time Indy winner has been treated for alcohol abuse in the past, when his girlfriend claimed that he hit her in the head in 2002.

Another athlete setting a bad example...what can we say about this?

After an alleged rape incident in Portland last October, where four Utah Jazz members were implicated, Jerry Sloan just had enough. Consequently, Sloan has implemented a new rule now where his players have a curfew. And, it's MIDNIGHT. That's right- during games on the road, Jazz players are required to be tucked in bed by midnight, or else they can face suspensions or fines.

Is this a lil ridiculous or is Sloan just bein' a firm disciplinarian?

This article suggests that Steve Nash is still the frontrunner for this award, but I honestly feel like Dirk is the more deserving candidate. I understand that Nash has been remarkable in holding the Suns together, but his supporting cast of Marion and Stoudemire have also been excellent this year.

Not to say that Dirk's supporting cast of Terry and Howard hasn't, but I really do think there's something to be said about Dirk's versatility as a player. After all, how many seven-footers do you know who can shoot the 3, the "j" from anywhere on the court, and drive to the hoop, AND shoot free throws. I don't think any I know. Not to mention, as this article indicates, the Mavs, with the BEST RECORD IN THE LEAGUE, have forgotten what a "L" looks like.

Go Dirk! Anyone care to disagree?

It seems like everyone is getting on the "hate-T.O." bandwagon these days. Welcome its newest member- NCAA basketball's winningest coach, Bob Knight. In a recent statement to the media, Knight told reporters that Parcells, a good friend of his, could not just stand T.O. and forced him to retire.

Knight said that he commended Parcells for being able to tolerate T.O. for a year, and that he would not be able to tolerate T.O. for one minute.

What do you think would happen if T.O. miraculously played for Bob Knight? A choking perhaps?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have finally filled their head coaching position. Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin accepted the job late Sunday evening, and will be the third coach in 38 years for the Steelers.

Reportedly, the deal he signed is supposed to be worth $2.5 million a year, for 4 years. Many people are saying that Tomlin is the beneficiary of the Rooney Rule, which requires that NFL teams interview all minority candidates for coaching positions. Rooney is the NFL's head of the committe on workplace diversity.

I really think it's terrible that statements are being made about Tomlin's job like this. I do not think that he is being given this job because he's black, but because he's done an absolutely wonderful job as defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings in the last year.

How do you think the Steelers will fare Tomlin? Do you think his race played into the hiring?

Who do you think is the sexiest Chicago Bear? Many people have coined the name "Sexy Rexy" for Rex Grossman, although his play this season merits no such nickname. Others, including Paris Hilton, think that Brian Urlacher is one sexy best, but I mean, she's pretty dumb- she should probably stick to Matt Leinart.

Buttt....according to a Chicago Sun Times poll, the Bears' PUNTER, Brad Maynard, was voted the sexiest Chicago Bear. A balding 32 year-old with two kids is the sexiest bear...I guess that's good for a punter, since he has no shot at the Hall of Fame, so the Sexiest Bear award will suffice.

Check this out! This blogger is claiming that Kobe and Dirk are the Tom Brady and Peyton Manning of the NBA. Kobe, with his championship rings and Phil Jackson (like Bellicheck), and Dirk (with no rings) but a shit load of talent and the goofiness of Peyton Manning...

What are your thoughts on this comparison? I'm not so sure if I buy into the Kobe/Tom comparison...

The Orlando Magic are struggling, just like most teams in the Eastern Conference. But they've lost their last three games by narrow margins and seem to have no one to really step it up for them. Grant Hill is getting paid a lot of money in Orlando and is only averaging 14 points a game. At 34, should he really be the frontal piece for this rebuilding organization? I think NOT.

Shouldn't the Magic front office disregard Hill's "nice-guy attitude" and just trade him to a New Jersey or a Sacramento, for a Carter or a Bibby?

Chris Kaman cut his hair, finally. Kaman apparently told reporters that he intended to only get his hair trimmed, but when the barber cut too much off, it looked like he had a girls' haircut. At that point, the only option was to cut it short. Fortunately for Kaman, he doesn't look like such an idiot anymore.

I think his hair looks better this way, and hopefully his game will get better with it too. Any thoughts?

The New England Patriots have engaged in some shady antics in the last couple of weeks. In the last two weeks, it was Coach Bellicheck knocking down a photographer to chest-jump Jets' coach Eric Mangini at the end of the game. And in the San Diego game, it was the Merriman impersonation by Ellis Hobbs.

But even during the last week against the Titans, the Pats were accused of running up the score, when they let veteran Vinny Testaverde throw a 43-yard TD pass to insult the Titans' "D." Apparently, the Titans are pretty pissed about a white dude with an afro scorchin' em for a TD.

I guess I would be too...any thoughts on the Pats?