While in LA covering this year's NBA Finals, FanHouse's Jay Mariotti and Kevin Blackistone stopped by the AOL studios and dropped a little knowledge on this year's quest for the Larry O'Brien trophy. Is Kobe's focus sharper than it's ever been? Is Orlando just happy to have topped LeBron? And what about some series predictions? The "Around the Horn" veterans dish on these topics and more.
(FanHouse is excited to work with writer Carrie Stewart, who recently scored an ample amount of time with Heat star Dwyane Wade. Stewart's full interview, which covers everything from misplaced diamonds to Barack Obama to those Star Jones rumors, is in its entirety below. Enjoy.)
The hits keep rolling in for pro skateboarder Rob Dyrdek. Fresh off of the launch of his new MTV show "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory" and his featured role in EA's "Skate 2", the Alien Workshop rider now has two new roles: civic-minded do-gooder and Carl's Jr. pitchman.
Well known for its interesting series of "most wealthy" lists for sports, Forbes recently stepped outside of the traditional sports world and released its rankings of the top 10 highest-paid action sports athletes for 2008.Mike Whitmarsh, Feb. 19: The 1996 Olympic silver medalist in beach volleyball committed suicide with carbon monoxide from car exhaust, according to the medical examiner.
Al Bello, Getty Images
Kamila Skolimowska, Feb. 18: The 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the hammer throw died suddenly while training in Portugal. The Polish athlete was just 26.
Olivier Morin, AFP/Getty Images
Ted Uhlaender, Feb. 12: The former Major League Baseball player, seen here as Cleveland's first base coach in 2001, had worked most recently as a scout for San Francisco.
Rick Stewart , Allsport / Getty Images
Jeremy Lusk, Feb. 9: The motocross star died two days after suffering head injuries in a crash.
Cal Sport Media / ZUMA Press
Mel Kaufman, Feb. 9: The former linebacker, who won two Super Bowl rings as a player with the Redskins, died in his California home at the age of 50.
NFL / Getty Images
Marian Cozma, Feb. 8: The 26-year-old was a member of Romania's national handball team. Cozma was stabbed to death and two other players were seriously injured in an attack at a nightclub in western Hungary.
Srdjan Ilic, AP
Payton Jordan, Feb. 5: The college track and field star, seen here in 2004, went on to coach at Stanford and led the United States to a record 24 medals at the 1968 Olympics.
Paul Sakuma, AP
John Gordy, Jan. 30: The former Detroit Lions offensive lineman was a three-time Pro Bowler and helped form the NFL Players' Association.
AP
Ingemar Johansson, Jan. 30: The Swede stunned the boxing world by knocking out Floyd Patterson to win the heavyweight title in 1959. Johansson became only the fifth heavyweight champion born outside the US.
AP
Glenn Davis, Jan. 28: The star hurdler, center, won two of his three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics.
AP
Indy driver Danica Patrick appears at the 2007 ESPY Awards. Click through for more Danica Patrick photos.
Vince Bucci, Getty Images
PHOENIX - FEBRUARY 10: Danica Patrick, driver of the #16 Rahal Letterman Racing Honda Panoz, waits in pit lane during the IRL IndyCar Series Open Test on February 10, 2005 at the Phoenix International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Robert Laberge, Getty Images
RICHMOND, VA - JUNE 24: Danica Patrick driver of the #16 Rahal Letterman Racing Argent Pioneer in the pits during practice for the IndyCar Series Sun Trust Indy Challenge on June 24, 2005 at the Richmond International Speedway in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images). *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick
Nick Laham, Getty Images
HOMESTEAD, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, poses for a portrait during testing for the IRL Indycar Series on February 21, 2007 at the Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Robert Laberge, Getty Images
Danica Patrick, Host of "Zero to Sixty" On Spike TV Spike TV Presents The 2003 GQ Men of the Year Awards - Arrivals The Regent Wall Street New York City, New York United States October 21, 2003 Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage.com To license this image (1757629), contact WireImage: +1 212-686-8900 (tel) +1 212-686-8901 (fax) info@wireimage.com (e-mail) www.wireimage.com (web site)
Jim Spellman, WireImage.com
New York, UNITED STATES: Driver Danica Patrick of the US is seen during a photo op for the driver line up for the 2007 Indianpolis 500, 21 May 2007, in New York's Times Square. Patrick, one of three female drivers who qualified for the 91st Indianapolis 500, will start 8th in the 27 May race. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
Stan Honda, AFP / Getty Images
Danica Patrick arrives at the 13th Annual ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre on July 13, 2005 in Hollywood, California.
Mark Mainz, Getty Images
DETROIT - AUGUST 30: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, walks through the paddock during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series Detroit Grand Prix on August 30, 2008 at the Raceway on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
Marc Serota, Getty Images
NEW YORK - APRIL 23: American auto racing driver Danica Patrick arrives to the "Baby Mama" premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre, during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival on April 23, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
HOMESTEAD, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Danica Patrick driver of the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda poses for a portrait during Spring Testing for the IRL IndyCar Series on February 26, 2008 at Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images
