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On Christmas Day, new Spike Lee-directed video PSAs featuring Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls), Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers) and survivors of gun violence will debut on ABC and ESPN’s NBA game coverage.
Lee joins Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the NBA to launch “End Gun Violence.”
Here is the video:
Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on tonight’s Magic at Brooklyn Nets game:
The Nets’ Brook Lopez had reason to feel excited about Monday night.
First, the Magic-Nets game was Star Wars Night at Barclays Center, and Lopez loves Star Wars.
The Nets also distributed Brook Lopez bobbleheads to the first 10,000 fans.
Lopez, a 7-foot center who loves the sci-fi genre and all things Disney, had seen the doll before Monday. The bobblehead features him wearing a Jedi robe, a Nets jersey and Nets warm-up pants. His likeness also wields a blue lightsaber, which is the same color lightsaber Luke Skywalker had in “A New Hope” and in “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Now this is a huge story that may shake up the entire sports world. It will certainly create drama out in the streets. Here’s the New York Post reporting:
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Leading up to Friday’s Nets vs. Knicks face-off, two of the competing athletes are having a real catfight.
The Knicks’ new 7-foot center, Robin Lopez, has harsh words about his twin brother, Brook, who plays for the crosstown competition.
More specifically, he’s trash-talking his sibling’s pet.
“Brook’s cat is very two-faced,” Robin tells The Post. “Everybody loves Brook’s cat. To everybody’s face, he’s such a nice cat. And it may sound like I’m joking, but I am dead serious. He acts like a lazy, sweet cat when everybody is looking. But when their heads turn, he’ll try to chase after [my cat] Edward. The second I lay eyes on him, he’ll act like, ‘I’m a cherub. I’m innocent.’ I’m not buying it.”
In fact, the brothers don’t live together because of their felines: Brook’s kitty Poupin — French for “chubby” — and Robin’s majestically monikered Prince Edward Zephyr.
Here’s the Orange County Register reporting the latest on former NBA star Lamar Odom:
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Lamar Odom was transported by helicopter Monday to a Los Angeles hospital, according to multiple reports, where he will continue his rehabilitation after being found unconscious at a Nevada brothel last week.
KTLA/5 reported Odom has been admitted to Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
His estranged wife, Khloe Kardashian, reportedly accompanied him. The reality TV star has been a constant presence at his side since Odom arrived at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas last Tuesday.
This is not really a movie trailer for Space Jam 2. It’s some funny nonsense, and the best thing we’ve seen today. Press play:
MSG TV presents 4-episode Knicks Now show, about the Knicks offseason
MSG Networks announced today the premiere of “Knicks Now” presented by Dodge, a four week series that will capture the excitement of the Knicks offseason from their first round pick in the NBA draft through the free agent signing period and the start of Summer League. “Knicks Now” will air on MSG Networks at 8:00 p.m. on four consecutive Wednesdays – June 24, July 1, July 8 and July 15 and will be hosted by Al Trautwig with Alan Hahn and Wally Szczerbiak. The June 24 premiere episode of “Knicks Now” will be telecast on MSG+, with the three subsequent episodes premiering on MSG.
In the first episode, Szczerbiak, who covered college basketball this year, will give firsthand insight on the draft and, along with Trautwig and Hahn, will preview the top Knicks draft prospects. The July 1 and July 8 episodes will focus on the free agency and what the future Knicks team might look like. The series finale, premiering during Knicks Summer League, will discuss the new Knicks roster and the impact the new players will have on the team this season.
Turner Sports has signed Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaq to contract extensions for TNT’s Inside the NBA studio TV show
TNT’s “Inside the NBA” studio TV show has signed host Ernie Johnson and analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal to multi-year extensions.
“We truly believe Inside the NBA is among the best studio shows of all time and a large part of its success is due to the unrivaled chemistry between Ernie, Charles, Kenny and Shaquille,” said Lenny Daniels, president of Turner Sports. “We’re looking forward to continuing the creativity and pioneering spirit behind the show for a very long time.”
The content of the show includes popular re-occurring segments such as “EJ’s Neat-O Stat of the Night,” “Gone Fishin’” and “Shaqtin’ a Fool.”
Inside the NBA is the most-watched NBA studio show on cable television, based on Nielsen Research, and frequently generates the second most-watched program on cable throughout the NBA Playoffs (trailing only live game coverage).
It’s a surprise to many that Shaq lasted all these years. But the network is clearly intent on keeping him around.
Fan discussion: Shaq, Ernie, Kenny and Chuck sign multi-year deal with TNT
The latest Donald Sterling crap
You probably don’t care about Donald Sterling anymore. But thanks to the beauty of the Internet, it’s quick and easy to share the latest on him anyway. Here’s Reuters reporting:
The woman behind the downfall of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling painted two conflicting portraits of him in court on Friday, saying he was a kind, generous mentor and father figure to her but was mean-spirited to others.
V. Stiviano, 32, also testified that the 80-year-old billionaire real estate mogul spent far more time with her and members of her family during the two and a half years she spent as his personal assistant, driver and confidante than he did with his own wife and children.
“We were so interconnected on a level that was more spiritual. He became my everything and I became his all,” she said, describing their bond as “love at first sight,” though she repeated under oath that the relationship was never sexual.”
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook doing big off-court things
Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who are stars on the court but also in the world of marketing and sponsorship opportunities:
In addition to his NBA responsibilities, Durant served as host of an outdoor concert with Kanye West as the headliner Thursday night, was the guest of honor at a Manhattan shoe store Friday afternoon as part of his partnership with Nike and had Good Morning America Weekend host Paula Faris riding along with him nearly every step of the way for a feature that is scheduled to air Sunday. Westbrook, meanwhile, took part in a Wall Street Journal subscriber event, made an appearance at Barneys New York, home to his clothing line and filmed a promotional spot for an upcoming major motion picture.
Westbrook is quickly shooting up the list of the NBA’s most sought after players. In addition to his clothing line, Westbrook XO, and his signature eyewear, Westbrook Frames, he also has a signature Jordan Brand shoe set to release in June. Westbrook also has partnered with Subway, U.S. Cellular, Mountain Dew, Zenith Watches, True Religion, Six Star Pro Nutrition and King and Jaxs, a designer underwear company. He’s also endorsed Ozarka Water and BancFirst.
truTV orders pilot for a workplace comedy about Shaq
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For those of you who enjoy watching Shaquille O’Neal on television, here’s some good news:
truTV has ordered a pilot for Shaq Inq. (working title), a workplace comedy loosely based on the wild and frenetic business empire of Shaquille O’Neal, who is executive-producing the show with Mike Tollin (Smallville, Arli$$). The series is being produced for truTV by Mandalay Sports Media. Jeremy Garelick (The Wedding Ringer, The Break-Up) will write the pilot, with John Fortenberry (Galavant, Instant Mom) set to direct. Perry Rogers, Colin Smeeton and Michael Parris will render producer services.
This half-hour scripted comedy follows Shaquille O’Neal and the team who runs his sprawling business empire. The offbeat, yet capable, group juggles the mayhem of managing Shaq’s existing products and endorsements while implementing his latest batch of eccentric and oftentimes brilliant business ideas. But while they’re all working towards the same goal, each employee is constantly jockeying for the power and recognition to make the big guy proud.
Dan Kaplow (Trophy Wife, Sin City Saints) and Jon Weinbach (The Other Dream Team, Straight Outta L.A.) are co-executive producers of the pilot.
Tollin said, “Shaquille and I have been friends for 20 years, and his growth as a businessman never ceases to amaze and amuse me.”
“There is no denying Shaq’s multifaceted appeal,” said Chris Linn, president, head of programming for truTV. “Thus, we couldn’t be happier to be collaborating with him, as well as Mike Tollin and Mandalay Sports Media, as we continue to push into new formats.”
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